{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"MD\" and year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/fema-opens-application-assistance-firefighters-grant-program", "FEMA Opens Application for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On December 26, FEMA will open its application for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The purpose of the AFG Program is to award grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and state fire training academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public and first responders. The AFG Program will award approximately $310.5 million in competitive grants.\nFor more information about the AFG program, please visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant.\nThe deadline to apply is February 2, 2018.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/010-congressman-andy-harris-r-md-gun-control", "010 - Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) & Gun Control", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "15 East Churchville Road\nSuite 102B\n\n\nBel Air, MD 21014\n\n  By Appointment Only  \n\tPhone: 410-588-5670  \n\tFax: 410-588-5673", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-historic-tax-reform", "House of Representatives Passes Historic Tax Reform", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On December 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference report to accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement lauding its passage:\nThe Conference report passed by the House of Representatives today will put more money back into the pockets of Marylanders and facilitate job creation right here in Maryland and across America. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act preserves the deductions that working- and middle-class Americans rely on, while simplifying the tax code and filing process.\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will support economic growth and stimulate job creation right here in America. Lowering tax rates for small and family-owned businesses and for larger employers will encourage American businesses to reinvest in their own operations, increase their employees pay, and make the United States more competitive in the global marketplace.\nI applaud my colleagues in the House for passing this legislation, and I urge the Senate to follow suit. Congress owes the American people a long-overdue tax break, and now is the time to deliver it.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-army-corps-engineers-begins-jetty-dredging-projects-md-01", "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Begins Jetty, Dredging Projects in MD-01", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is starting work on two projects that will benefit residents of Smith Island in Somerset County, Maryland. The projects entail the construction of two jetties to improve navigation at Rhodes Point and dredging the Big Thorofare and Twitch Cove federal channels. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01), who advocated for the projects, issued the following statement in support of the projects:\nI commend the Army Corps of Engineers for their attention to these important projects. The residents of Smith Island heavily depend on these channels for transportation to and from the mainland, and to receive shipments of goods. Severe erosion and shoaling have concerned the Marylanders living on Smith Island for years now, so the Army Corps plan to complete the projects in fall 2018 is welcome news.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-issues-statement-revised-tax-legislation", "Rep. Harris Issues Statement on Revised Tax Legislation", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris has issued the following statement in support of the revised Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:\n\"The Conference committee delivered a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that will lower taxes, stimulate economic growth, and create new jobs. The bill will protect the deductions that many working families depend on and repeals the burdensome Obamacare individual mandate penalty tax, so that Maryland families can be free to choose the health insurance plans that best meet their household needs.\nI commend my colleagues on the Conference committee for their hard work. I am proud to support this historic pro-job growth tax reform that will lower taxes and put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Marylanders. I also thank my colleagues on the Conference for working with me to protect key deductions, including a revised state and local tax deduction.\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will create a pro-job growth economy by encouraging employers to bring their operations back to the U.S. from overseas, by lowering tax rates to a globally competitive level, and by enhancing the deductions that encourage companies to reinvest into their own operations.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-plans-tele-town-hall-december-11", "Congressman Andy Harris Plans Tele-Town Hall for December 11", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On December 11, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will hold his seventh telephone town hall of 2017. The Congressman\u2019s office will automatically call out to nearly 40,000 constituents living on the Eastern Shore, pulling phone numbers from the constituent services database. If constituents prefer to be called on a certain phone number, they can list that number through the link below.\nQuestions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris\u2019 DC office at (202) 225-5311.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-harris-speaks-favor-concealed-carry-reciprocity", "Rep. Harris Speaks In Favor of Concealed Carry Reciprocity", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "15 East Churchville Road\nSuite 102B\n\n\nBel Air, MD 21014\n\n  By Appointment Only  \n\tPhone: 410-588-5670  \n\tFax: 410-588-5673", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-representatives-passes-concealed-carry-reciprocity-act", "U.S. House of Representatives Passes Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On December 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. The legislation allows concealed carry permit holders to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows concealed carry. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the legislation:\n\u201cThe Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is common sense legislation that will only make our country safer. Every state in the Union has now adopted a concealed carry law. More than 12 million citizens have carry permits. And yet, the nation\u2019s violent crime rate has fallen by 51 percent and hit a 43 year low. The Second Amendment helps keep Americans safe. It\u2019s time for our federal government to secure the Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to conceal carry across state lines.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/sf-talk-andy-harris-about-tax-bill-shush-fund-hill-steinle-verdict-flynn-plea", "S&F Talk With Andy Harris About the Tax Bill, Shush Fund on the Hill, Steinle Verdict & the Flynn Plea", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "15 East Churchville Road\nSuite 102B\n\n\nBel Air, MD 21014\n\n  By Appointment Only  \n\tPhone: 410-588-5670  \n\tFax: 410-588-5673", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-announces-december-tele-town-hall", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces December Tele-Town Hall", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will hold a telephone town hall this month for the residents of Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, and Harford Counties. The Congressman\u2019s office will automatically call out to nearly 80,000 constituents living in these counties, pulling phone numbers from the constituent services database. If constituents prefer to be called on a certain phone number, they can list that number through the link below.\nQuestions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris\u2019 DC office at (202) 225-5311.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-representatives-passes-bill-combat-sexual-harassment-congress", "U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill to Combat Sexual Harassment in Congress", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On November 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res. 630 \u2013 Requiring each Member, officer, and employee of the House of Representatives to complete a program of training in workplace rights and responsibilities each session of each Congress, and for other purposes. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the resolution:\n\u201cMembers of Congress must abide by the same standards of conduct as employers in the private sector. Unfortunately, some Members of Congress have demonstrated that they do not respect physical and verbal boundaries in the workplace. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives took a major step to prevent workplace discrimination and harassment by passing H.Res. 630. The mandatory training program outlined in this resolution will reinforce the standards of conduct that are expected in the workplace for all Members and staff. I am proud to support this resolution, and I commend Congresswoman Comstock for bringing this resolution to the House floor.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-first-major-tax-reform-1986", "House of Representatives Passes First Major Tax Reform Since 1986", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On November 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation is the first major reform to the federal tax code since 1986. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and released the following statement in support of its passage:\n\u201cI am proud to support the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by the House today. It will stimulate our nation\u2019s economy, create jobs, and put more money into the pockets of hardworking Americans. It will be the largest tax cut in American history. As this legislation progresses through the Senate, I will continue to work with the House Ways & Means Committee Chairman, Kevin Brady, to address the state and local tax deductions that are important to Marylanders.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/veterans-honored-beulah-ceremony", "Veterans Honored at Beulah Ceremony", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "HURLOCK \u2014 Veterans Day was recognized at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery near Hurlock on Saturday, Nov. 11, with U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1st, as the guest speaker.\n\n\n\tThe poignant ceremony paid tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice.\n\n\n\t\u201cThe price of freedom is eternal vigilance, there\u2019s no question about it,\u201d Harris said. \u201cDriving over here today reminded me of a drive over to the Eastern Shore we took when I was in the state Senate, back on Sept. 11, 2001. It was a beautiful, sunny day. When I have sunny days like this, it just reminds me that we must always be vigilant.\u201d\n\n\n\tHarris said that while the politicians in Washington may disagree about many things, protecting and recognizing veterans is an issue about which the two sides are in agreement.\n\n\n\t\u201cThe people here, the men and women who wear the uniform, are the ones who pay that price for freedom, but it doesn\u2019t go unappreciated,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\tHarris promised to do everything possible can to take care of the men and women who put on that uniform, that small minority of Americans who put on the uniform to protect the freedom and liberty of all our fellow Americans.\n\n\n\tOne way to do as such would be to request that retired military pensions not be taxed in the state of Maryland, a plan Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Veterans Day.\n\n\n\tHarris called the plan a sign that the sacrifices made by our service personnel are not forgotten.\n\n\n\tOther elected representatives present included Sen. Addie Eckardt, R-37-Mid-Shore; Del. Johnny Mautz, R-37B-Talbot; and Del. Chris Adams, R-37B-Wicomico.\n\n\n\tRemarks also were delivered by Denise Perry, senior vice commander for the Department of Maryland Veterans of Foreign Wars.\n\n\n\t\u201cThroughout our nation\u2019s history, there is a unique group of citizens who have selflessly stepped forward to protect the rest of the nation, bravely ensuring our safety, security, and well-being,\u201d Perry said. \u201cIt is that small group, the mere 7 percent of Americans who have ever served in the United States Armed Forces, who we celebrate and thank today.\u201d\n\n\n\tProclamations were presented from the offices of Gov. Larry Hogan; U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.\n\n\n\tEaston Middle School Band, directed by Donna Ewing, played the national anthem and Taps for the crowd. Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 648 had the honor of lowering and raising the colors at the beginning and end of the program, respectively.\n\n\n\tThe Laying of Wreaths included the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery Committee, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 648, South Eastern Shore American Legion Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution, Marine Corps League, the Dorchester County Garden Club, and several area VFW and American Legion Posts.\n\n\n\tThe Rifle Volley Salute was performed by the sheriff\u2019s offices of Dorchester and Caroline counties.\n\n\n\tEstablished in 1976, the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 6,000 veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-harris-speaks-out-against-drug-abuse", "Rep. Harris Speaks Out Against Drug Abuse", "2017-11-13", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "15 East Churchville Road\nSuite 102B\n\n\nBel Air, MD 21014\n\n  By Appointment Only  \n\tPhone: 410-588-5670  \n\tFax: 410-588-5673", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/eastern-shore-native-nominated-lead-department-health-and-human-services", "Eastern Shore Native Nominated to Lead Department of Health and Human Services", "2017-11-13", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On November 13, President Trump nominated Alex Azar II to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Mr. Azar is a native of Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore and served as General Counsel and Deputy Secretary for HHS under President George W. Bush. Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of Mr. Azar\u2019s nomination:\n\u201cPresident Trump has selected an excellent, highly-qualified candidate for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services who hails from Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore.\u00a0 Mr. Azar has already served as General Counsel and Deputy Secretary for HHS, and was confirmed by voice vote in the Senate twice. Mr. Azar knows the Department of Health and Human Services inside and out, and will work with Congress as we continue the efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare and lower the cost of healthcare for hardworking Americans.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/save/https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-harris-speaks-out-against-drug-abuse", "Rep. Harris Speaks Out Against Drug Abuse", "2017-11-13", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Saving page now...\nhttps://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-harris-speaks-out-against-drug-abuse\nAs it appears live December 15, 2017 4:06:54 AM UTC\n  \n  \n    \n          \n      \n    \n      \n          \n        \n    \n  \n    \n                Rep. Harris Speaks Out Against Drug Abuse", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/constituents-turn-out-harris-town-hall", "Constituents Turn Out for Harris Town Hall", "2017-11-11", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALISBURY, Md. - Eastern Shore representative Andy Harris held a town hall meeting at Wicomico High School Saturday afternoon for a discussion centering around tax reform.\nOther topics were discussed relating to economics, including addressing the deficit, and creating a budget amendment, with some unrelated to economics, including gerrymandering and the lack of women in government.\nHarris says the way to reduce the deficit is not to raise taxes, but to cut taxes to grow the economy.\nAt times, chants of 'shame' came from the audience, but Harris was given his biggest round of applause when he suggested the best way to reform the tax code was to institute a flat tax.\n\"Go to a flat tax.\u00a0 Eliminate all taxes and deductions, go to a flat tax... If the government wants to raise money or lower taxes, they don't do special carve outs and exemptions for one special interest group and try to sneak something into a bill.\u00a0 They have to actually go and change the rate on everybody.\u00a0 And ladies and gentlemen that's the only fair way to do it.\"\nHarris added the corporate tax rate is as he says, 'outdated,' calling for tax reform like those under the Kennedy and Reagan administrations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/congressman-andy-harris-tours-northwest-carroll-county", "Congressman Andy Harris Tours Northwest Carroll County", "2017-11-10", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In the front showroom of The Taney Corp. on Allendale Lane in Taneytown, there is a sweeping, walnut staircase that ascends through a cream-colored aperture in the ceiling. If you stand beneath it and look up, as owner Jeff Glass invited a group of local dignitaries who had assembled around visiting Congressman Andy Harris, R-District 1, you would see the staircase has \u201can elliptical shape, a sort of that egg shape to it,\u201d Glass said. \u201cVery unusual type of stair.\u201d\nHarris visited The Taney Corp. on Friday as part of a tour of businesses in the northwest corner of the county and his district. He would later visit Taneytown-based pump manufacturer Flowserve before heading to the Hampstead area to drop in on Sauder\u2019s Eggs and commercial spice-maker Fuchs North America.\nAt The Taney Corp., Harris spoke with Glass and workers about their business of custom stair building, first purchased by Glass\u2019 father in 1962. They discussed the curving of fine woods and the training of employees with an aptitude for it.\nAnd there was the answering of stair-related historical trivia posed to Harris and his entourage, such as what to call the small ivory buttons installed in the posts at the bottom of the sweeping walnut showcase stair banisters. (Answer: They\u2019re known as \u201cbrag buttons.\u201d)\n\u201cIf you go in a house and there is a wooden button, that signifies there is still a mortgage on the house,\u201d Glass said. \u201cWhen you pay the mortgage, you burn the mortgage, you pull that plug out, you put the ashes in the hole and you put an ivory button in to indicate you\u2019ve paid your mortgage, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s called a brag button.\u201d\nHarris began the day at Taneytown\u2019s Thunderhead Bowl, eating breakfast with business and community leaders, and then spending the better part of an hour answering questions from constituents, delving deep at times into policy.\nOne man in the audience asked about health care, noting that, \u201cI have not heard one good reason why I should pay for somebody else\u2019s health care.\u201d\nIt is a sentiment with which Harris agreed.One man in the audience asked about health care, noting that, \u201cI have not heard one good reason why I should pay for somebody else\u2019s health care.\u201d\n\u201cWe have grown into an income retribution country,\u201d he said. \u201cThe fact of the matter is, it actually goes even beyond that because you pay for health care for people who aren\u2019t taking care of themselves.\u201d\nHarris is not a fan, he said, of the\u00a0Medicaid\u00a0expansion that took place under the President Barack Obama-era Affordable Care Act, at least as it was passed by the then-Democrat controlled Congress.\n\u201cWe added 10 million people to Medicaid, and the biggest expansion was what we called able-bodied adults without dependents,\u201d he said, that is, low-income adults without children or disabilities became eligible for health insurance coverage through state-operated \u2014 but federally funded \u2014 Medicaid programs.\n\u201cAll we wanted to do was put a work-training, work-seeking requirement on that. \u2018We\u2019ll help you, but we\u2019re going to help you get out of the need for the help,\u2019 \u201d Harris told the group at breakfast. \u201cThe pushback was tremendous. For the life of me, I can\u2019t understand.\u201d\nHarris believes in helping those that need it, but also helping them to help themselves so they do not need that help forever, he explained to his audience.\nHe also believes in the power of a growing economy to float all boats, to generate jobs for those who need to help so they can help themselves, and to increase wages for those already employed.\nHe listened with great interest at his third stop of the day, Flowserve, as general manager Chris Heacock explained how the company has set up a 4,000-hour machinist apprenticeship program to train young people in the use of fine machining tools \u2014 a necessity, Heacock pointed out, because a whole generation of skilled machinists are now nearing retirement.\nAnd those machinists in a nondescript block-shaped building in Taneytown were busy Friday, as evident in a tour, creating pump and turbine components that are shipped worldwide \u2014 according to Heacock, every molten salt solar plant in the world has pumps manufactured in Taneytown.\nIt\u2019s companies like this, Harris said later in an interview, that can really help the economy grow, and tax reform, such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, that can help those companies do it.\n\u201cTax reform for a company like this is incredibly important,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not only a tax cut, but an increase in pay over time as businesses invest, become more productive, and pass some of those savings on to their employees.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/port-deposit-receives-66-million-federal-funding-new-water-treatment-plant", "Port Deposit Receives $6.6 Million in Federal Funding for New Water Treatment Plant", "2017-11-09", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On November 8, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its approval of $4.2 million in loans and $2.4 million in grants for the replacement and relocation of Port Deposit\u2019s existing wastewater treatment plant. Additional funding will be provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the project:\n\u201cI applaud USDA\u2019s attention to this important project. Too often, the needs of small towns and rural communities are neglected by the federal bureaucracy. Small communities like Port Deposit make up the backbone of our nation, and many of these communities need outside support to maintain and advance their infrastructure. Rural development is critical to keeping our country healthy, happy, and economically competitive.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-host-constituent-town-hall-meeting", "Congressman Harris to Host Constituent Town Hall Meeting", "2017-11-03", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will host a town hall meeting to answer constituent questions about the newly-introduced Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other topics under consideration in Congress. All residents of Maryland\u2019s First District are welcome to attend the event and ask questions.\nDate: November 11, 2017\nTime: 4:00 \u2013 5:00 PM\nLocation: Wicomico High School Auditorium,\n201 Long Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804\nParking and the auditorium entrance are located on the Glen Avenue side of the school. For questions about the event, please contact Congressman Harris\u2019 Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311.\nIf you are a member of the media and would like to cover this event, please contact Jacque Clark at Jacque.Clark@mail.house.gov.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/frederick-douglass-bicentennial-commission-act-becomes-law", "Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act Becomes Law", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On Thursday, November 2, President Trump signed into law H.R. 2989, the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act. This legislation establishes a commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities to honor Frederick Douglass for the bicentennial anniversary of his birth. The original sponsors and cosponsors of this legislation, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01), Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At large), Senator Ben Cardin (MD), and Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statements praising the enactment of this law:\n\u201cI commend my colleagues in Congress for their bipartisan and bicameral efforts to pass this legislation, and I am grateful to President Trump for his attention to this important matter. As we approach the bicentennial of Frederick Douglass\u2019 birth, it is critical that Douglass\u2019 contributions to our nation are recognized and celebrated. Frederick Douglass was the father of the abolitionist movement and left a lasting imprint on American culture,\u201d said Congressman Harris. \u201cNow that the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act is law, the commission can be formed to develop its recommendations.\u00a0 I am eager to hear the commission\u2019s recommendations, and participate in the activities honoring this American hero and Eastern Shore native.\u201d\n\u201cFrederick Douglass was one of the most transformative figures in our nation\u2019s history,\u201d said Delegate Norton. \u201cIt is only fitting that the federal government and the nation celebrate and honor his life on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Commemorative commissions for individuals are understandably rare, but there is perhaps none more deserving than Douglass. We in the District of Columbia are particularly proud he called D.C. home for most of his adult life. His home here in Southeast is an official national historic site and one of our city\u2019s treasures, visited by thousands of tourists and residents annually. I am grateful that the House and Senate passed the bill with unanimous bipartisan support and that the President signed it in time for the commission to do its important work.\u201d\n\u201cNow more than ever, it\u2019s important that we remember the work and passion of Frederick Douglass,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen. \u201cHe fought tirelessly to improve our great nation and create a more perfect union.\u00a0 His impact on Maryland can be seen across our state and still has lasting impacts on our communities. This commission will explore how we can learn from his legacy and continue to apply these lessons today. As Douglass once stated, \u2018The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.\u2019 We should never stop fighting to move our country forward.\u201d\n\u201cFrederick Douglass, who was born in 1818 in the State of Maryland, escaped from slavery and became a leading writer, orator, publisher, and one of the United States\u2019 most influential advocates for abolitionism and the equality of all people,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cHonoring Douglass on his bicentennial allows the nation to look back at the incredible life and work of this great man. It also gives us a unique lens to view our world and nation today and the continuing fight for civil rights and equality.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-representatives-unveils-pro-growth-tax-reform-plan", "U.S. House of Representatives Unveils Pro-Growth Tax Reform Plan", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On November 2, the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled its tax reform plan, entitled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of the legislation:\n\u201cThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a win for middle class families and businesses that create American jobs in a global marketplace. Under this bill, a typical middle-income family of four earning $59,000 annually will receive a $1,182 tax cut. This legislation doubles the standard deduction, expands the Child Tax Credit, and maintains 401(k) and IRA retirement plans.\nAmerica\u2019s small family owned businesses and larger employers will receive tax cuts as well \u2013 allowing businesses to invest and grow, and encouraging them to return outsourced jobs to the United States. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will stimulate economic growth and increase America\u2019s competitiveness in the global economy.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-house-representatives-now-one-step-closer-tax-reform", "Rep. Harris: House of Representatives Now One Step Closer to Tax Reform", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On October 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01), released the following statement lauding its passage:\n\u201cWith the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 passed by both the House of Representatives and Senate, Congress is one step closer to delivering tax reform and economic growth to the American people. The tax reform plan Congress is crafting fulfills the jobs-producing and middle class income-tax-cutting promise made by the President. Under President Trump\u2019s leadership, Congress is going to significantly reform the U.S. tax code for the first time since 1986.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-more-can-and-must-be-done-combat-opioid-epidemic", "Rep. Harris: More Can and Must be Done to Combat Opioid Epidemic", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On October 26, President Trump declared the opioid addiction epidemic a Public Health Emergency. Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), issued the following statement in support of the President\u2019s declaration:\n\u201cAs a physician, I know that opioid addiction does not discriminate based on race, gender, income level, or location. Maryland has been hit particularly hard by the opioid epidemic. In 2016, 89% of all intoxication deaths in Maryland were linked to opioid abuse, and the frequency of opioid-related deaths quadrupled from 2010 to 2016. Education, prevention, and treatment are all critical factors in preventing the further spread of this terrible epidemic.\nIn Maryland, Governor Hogan is leading a great effort to save lives here at home, and in Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a spending bill that provides more than $1 billion in funding to combat the nationwide opioid epidemic. More can and must be done \u2013 both in Maryland and across the country. I applaud President Trump for declaring the opioid epidemic a Public Health Emergency. His leadership in this crisis will enable an even stronger response and save more precious lives.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-votes-impose-new-sanctions-against-north-korea", "House of Representatives Votes to Impose New Sanctions Against North Korea", "2017-10-24", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On October 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3898, the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement supporting its passage:\n\u201cI commend my colleagues in Congress for passing the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act. Otto\u2019s death was the result of abuse by his North Korean captors \u2013 one of countless atrocities committed by Kim Jong Un and his oppressive dictatorship. Congress can no longer stand idly by while North Korea starves its citizens, abuses its American prisoners, and builds a nuclear arsenal with the intention of attacking the United States.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/sba-economic-injury-disaster-loans-available-maryland-following-secretary", "SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available in Maryland Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration", "2017-10-19", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations located in Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester Counties as a result of the excessive rain between July 28 and Sept. 2, 2017.\nThe loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 3.305 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA\u2019s secure website at\u00a0https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela\nThe deadline for loan applications is June 13, 2018.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/bill-honors-douglass", "Bill Honors Douglass", "2017-10-17", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "EASTON \u2014 A bill that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives would set up a commission to develop ways to honor Talbot County\u2019s native son, Frederick Douglass, in the year of his 200th birthday.\nAccording to the bill, H.R. 2989, the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission would \u201cplan, develop, and carry out programs and activities that are fitting and proper to honor Frederick Douglass on the occasion of the bicentennial anniversary of Douglass\u2019 birth.\u201d The commission will then make recommendations to Congress.\nThe bill was introduced in June by U.S Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1st, and U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Washington, D.C., Democrat.\nHarris said during a House session on Oct. 11 that the purpose of the bill \u201cis more than just honoring the birth of one great civil rights leader.\u201d\n\u201cIts purpose is to recognize his lasting impact on American government, culture and values,\u201d Harris said.\n\u201cFrederick Douglass\u2019 work stretched far beyond the fight for legal freedom into the equally important fight for social and cultural equality,\u201d Harris said. \u201cFrederick Douglass is a model for the values that make our nation great \u2014 quality, liberty and a commitment to working hard and helping others.\u201d\nDouglass was born into slavery on the Eastern Shore in 1818 and had no formal education, but taught himself to read and write. After his escape from slavery, he became a powerful abolitionist, author, statesman and orator.\nHe was an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. marshal, an ambassador and was considered as a presidential nominee during the Republican National Convention in 1888.\nIn September, Harris visited Wye House, the historic planation house in Talbot County where Douglass spent part of his childhood. He was led through the tour by Dr. Mark Leone, an archeologist and professor of anthropology at the University of Maryland, who said, \u201cWye House is important to Frederick Douglass, to Talbot County, to Maryland, and to all of its descendants.\u201d\n\u201cOur commitment has been to discovering African-American heritage through archaeology. (Our) discoveries show us the creative culture that Frederick Douglass knew and fought to free,\u201d Leone said. \u201cThe archaeology shows us the community that produced him and his values. Thus, preserving it during his bicentenary is guaranteeing American freedom.\u201d\nThe House version of the bill now heads to the Senate, where a copy of the legislation is being sponsored by U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.\n\u201cAs we approach the bicentennial of Douglass\u2019 birth, all Americans should learn more about his work as an abolitionist and his lasting influence on our nation\u2019s culture, as I did at Wye House,\u201d Harris said. \u201cThe commission established by this legislation will determine the best ways to honor this great American hero, and his fight for freedom and equality.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-applauds-decision-end-unconstitutional-obamacare-subsidies", "Rep. Harris Applauds Decision to End Unconstitutional Obamacare Subsidies", "2017-10-13", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) released the following statement in response to President Trump's decision to end Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments to health insurance companies:\n\"For years, the Obama Administration blatantly violated the Constitution by improperly funneling billions of dollars to insurance companies without Congressional appropriations. I applaud the President\u2019s decision to end this unconstitutional practice.\nWhen Democrat leaders asked the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to estimate the effects of ending payments for CSRs, they were probably surprised to learn that CBO and JCT reported that \u00a0'many people with income between 200 and 400 percent of FPL would\u2026be able to pay lower net premiums for insurance that pays for the same share (or even greater share) of covered benefits.' For those with incomes above\u00a0400 percent of FPL, people would 'pay about the same premiums for bronze or silver plans\u2026as under the baseline and lower premiums for gold plans.' In fact, CBO even told them such a decision would be 'reducing the number of uninsured people, on net, in most years.'\nAs the Obamacare nightmare continues to unfold, it\u2019s critical that Congress does not give up on efforts to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a system that will bring down the cost of premiums for the middle-class Americans who have been hardest hit by Obamacare.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-iran-must-be-held-accountable-its-actions", "Rep. Harris: Iran Must Be Held Accountable For Its Actions", "2017-10-13", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On Friday, October 13, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of President Trump\u2019s Iran strategy:\n\u201cI strongly support President Trump\u2019s decision not to recertify the Iran nuclear deal. The Iranian government is a dangerous, authoritarian regime that sponsors terrorist groups and has openly threatened the United States and its allies. The deal made by the Obama Administration \u2013 without the consent of the United States Senate \u2013 failed to properly hold the Iranian regime accountable. Our nation\u2019s strategy on Iran must be reevaluated, and I am committed to working with the Trump Administration and my colleagues in Congress to find a permanent solution that will keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of the Iranian government and the terrorists they sponsor.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-harris-president-trump-increasing-choice-and-competition-health-insurance", "Dr. Harris: President Trump is Increasing Choice and Competition in the Health Insurance Market", "2017-10-12", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On October 12, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to expand access and choice for Americans seeking health insurance, while driving down costs. Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the Executive Order:\n\u201cThe nightmare of Obamacare has people feeling the pinch across the country.\u00a0 Here in Maryland, the most popular plan premiums have just increased 50% and premiums have almost tripled since the Maryland exchange launched in 2014.\u00a0 The choice of insurers locally has dwindled from seven to just two.\u00a0\nPresident Trump\u2019s Executive Order today will increase choice and competition for health insurance here in Maryland, thus lowering costs while maintaining key protections for consumers.\u00a0 It will also level the playing field between big and small businesses by allowing small businesses to pool together in Association Health Plans that could be sold across state lines.\u00a0This reform was long overdue.\nAs Congress continues to consider the repeal and replacement of Obamacare, this Executive Order\u2019s common sense approach will make significant strides in the effort to end the nightmare of rising premiums and decreasing choice in the Obamacare exchanges.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-bill-honoring-frederick-douglass", "House of Representatives Passes Bill Honoring Frederick Douglass", "2017-10-11", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On Wednesday, October 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2989, the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act.\u00a0 Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) is an original cosponsor of H.R. 2989, and released the following statement lauding its passage:\n\u201cI commend my colleagues in the House for passing the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act today. In September, I had the privilege of visiting Wye House, a plantation on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore where Frederick Douglass spent part of his childhood. It was truly incredible to learn more about the history of Frederick Douglass and the other enslaved peoples of Wye House, and to explore the origins of modern African American heritage and culture.\nAs we approach the bicentennial of Douglass\u2019 birth, all Americans should learn more about his work as an abolitionist and his lasting influence on our nation\u2019s culture, as I did at Wye House. The commission established by this legislation will determine the best ways to honor this great American hero, and his fight for freedom and equality.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/reminder-service-academy-applications-due-october-30", "Reminder: Service Academy Applications Due October 30", "2017-10-10", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Students from Maryland\u2019s First District interested in attending a military service academy should be advised that the deadline to apply for a nomination from Congressman Harris is October 30, 2017.\nAll residents of the First District between the ages of 17 and 23 are encouraged to apply. Admission is based on SAT/ACT scores, class rank, physical aptitude scores, extracurricular activities, leadership ability, athletic abilities, medical examinations, and a panel interview. Interviews will be conducted by Congressman Harris\u2019 Military Academy Review Board, which is made up of veterans and reservists of the United States military. Interviews will be conducted in December, and the Service Academies will be notified of Congressman Harris\u2019 nominations by December 31, 2017.\nStudents can download the nomination application at https://harris.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations. For questions, please call Congressman Harris\u2019 Kent Island District Office at 410-643-5425.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-stands-vice-president-pence", "Rep. Harris Stands With Vice President Pence", "2017-10-10", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHIGTON, DC: On October 8, Vice President Mike Pence left an NFL game after several players refused to stand during the national anthem. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of Vice President Pence: \"As a veteran, I fully support the Vice President's decision to leave the Colts-49ers game after the disrespect the players showed to our flag and our national anthem. \u00a0I personally will not be attending any NFL games until this disrespect ends.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-trump-s-immigration-policies-put-american-jobs-and-safety-first", "President Trumps Immigration Policies Put American Jobs and Safety First", "2017-10-09", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On October 8, the White House released an outline of President Trump\u2019s immigration principles and priorities. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of the President\u2019s agenda:\n\u201cOur nation's immigration system is broken and hurting American workers. The immigration agenda proposed by President Trump exemplifies his commitment to securing our borders, improving oversight of who is entering our country, keeping the American people safe, and increasing employment opportunities for Americans. It is imperative that Congress works with the Trump Administration to secure our southern border, penalize unlawful sanctuary cities, and prevent foreign nationals from overstaying their visas, which is the leading cause of illegal immigration in the United States.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/mandate-clear-flawed-dietary-guidelines-process-must-be-reformed", "Mandate is Clear: Flawed Dietary Guidelines Process Must Be Reformed", "2017-10-02", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The nation\u2019s senior scientific body recently released a new report raising serious questions about the \u201cscientific rigor\u201d of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This report confirms what many in government have suspected for years and is the reason why Congress mandated this report in the first place: our nation's top nutrition policy is not based on sound science.\nIn order to \u201cdevelop a trustworthy DGA [guidelines],\u201d states the\u00a0report\u00a0by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), \u201cthe process needs to be redesigned.\u201d\nAmong other things, the report finds that the guidelines process for reviewing the scientific evidence falls short of meeting the \"best practices for conducting systematic reviews,\" and advises that \"methodological approaches and scientific rigor for evaluating the scientific evidence\" need to \"be strengthened.\u201d\nIn other words, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are far from the \u201cgold standard\u201d of science and dietary advice they need to be. In fact, they may be doing little to improve our health at all.\nA crucial point, according to the report, is the need to upgrade the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Nutrition Evidence Library (NEL), which conducts the scientific literature reviews. The NEL needs more \u201cup-to-date\u201d methods, outside technical expertise and external peer review of its work.\u00a0A review of the NEL process in 2015\u00a0published in\u00a0The BMJ (British Medical Journal), for instance, found that several of the evidence reviews had not been conducted systematically, allowing for cherry picking or outside industry influence, and that some 33 percent of the scientific questions requiring systematic reviews did not receive a review.\nOther recommendations by the National Academies report include improving transparency of the guidelines process and the need for the Guidelines to address not just healthy Americans but also those\u2014now a majority\u2014who are suffering from nutrition-related diseases.\nFor instance,\u00a0rates of type 2 diabetes have quadrupled\u00a0and obesity has nearly doubled since 1980, the very year that the guidelines were launched.\u00a0For all of us in government, this is a matter of urgent concern.\nIt seems clear that the lack of sound science has led to a number of dietary tenets that are not just mistaken, but even harmful - as a number of recent studies suggest.\nFor instance, the guidelines\u2019 recommendation to eat \u201chealthy whole grains\u201d turns out not to be supported by any strong science, according to\u00a0a recent study by the Cochrane Collaboration, a group specializing in scientific literature reviews. Looking at all the data from clinical trials, which is the most rigorous data available, the study concluded that there is \u201cinsufficient evidence\u201d to show that whole grains reduced blood pressure or had any cardiovascular benefit. \u00a0\nAnother recent study, called the\u00a0Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology\u00a0(PURE), followed 135,335 people worldwide, and found that there was no effect on cardiovascular mortality with higher saturated fat consumption. This same finding has been echoed over the past decade in thirteen other review papers on saturated fats,\u00a0on all the clinical trials\u00a0and\u00a0all the observational data\u00a0to date.\nEven more worrying, PURE found a link between the low levels of saturated fat currently recommended by the Dietary Guidelines and an\u00a0increased\u00a0risk of stroke.\nThe paper, which was published in\u00a0The Lancet,\u00a0concluded that \u201cglobal dietary guidelines should be reconsidered in light of these findings.\u201d The study leader, Yusuf Salim, chair of cardiovascular medicine at McMaster\u2019s University and immediate past president of the World Heart Federation, added that \u201csaturated fat in moderation actually appears good for you.\u201d\nPURE additionally found that the lowest risk for cardiovascular or total mortality was for those consuming the\u00a0most\u00a0fat, up to the 45 percent of calories as measured in the study. Mortality was disturbingly\u00a0higheramong those consuming only 32-34 percent fat,\u00a0as the Dietary Guidelines are currently modeled. This PURE data is also supported by a large amount of more rigorous trial evidence,\u00a0including long-term data, showing that\u00a0higher fat diets lead to more weight loss\u00a0and\u00a0better outcomes for blood glucose control, an important factor in type 2 diabetes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/dorchester-county-receives-additional-federal-aid-fight-drug-abuse-and", "Dorchester County Receives Additional Federal Aid to Fight Drug Abuse and Trafficking", "2017-10-02", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On September 28, the Office of National Drug Control Policy designated Dorchester County, MD as part of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The HIDTA program provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas that are considered critical drug-trafficking regions in the United States. HIDTA currently funds 752 initiatives across the country, including enforcement, intelligence and information-sharing, and drug prevention and treatment.\nCongressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement following Dorchester County\u2019s designation:\n\u201cThe heroin and opioid epidemic claims thousands of lives every year in Maryland. Ending this public health crisis is a top priority for me, as I know it is for Governor Hogan and President Trump. Governor Hogan and Maryland\u2019s first responders have made great strides to curb this epidemic, but there\u2019s still work to be done. I applaud the Administration\u2019s inclusion of Dorchester County into the HIDTA program, and I have no doubt that this additional assistance will save lives.\u201d\nFor more information about the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program, please visit WhiteHouse.Gov.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/local-congressional-reaction-trump-tax-plan", "Local Congressional Reaction to 'Trump Tax Plan'", "2017-09-29", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MARYLAND - The new Republican tax plan is out and there are conflicting viewpoints from political leaders on the eastern shore.\nRepresentative Andy Harris says this plan delivers on the president's promise to invigorate business while increasing the pay checks for average Americans.\nHarris says these tax breaks will help bring manufacturing jobs back to the shore.\u00a0 The plan includes a decrease in taxes on small businesses from 39.6 percent to 25 percent.\u00a0 The plan also includes a drop in corporate tax rate to 20 percent.\nMaryland Senator Chris Van Hollen says this would be bad news for the shore, that this is more trickle down economics that will increase the national debt by $3-4 trillion over the next ten years.\n\"It's going to increase the number of jobs that come to the eastern shore, it's going to attract companies to the lower shore especially,\" said Harris.\n\"In Maryland we are going to be especially hard hit because if you're a tax payer you will no longer be allowed to deduct your state and local taxes,\" said Van Hollen.\nHarris says the reduced tax brackets will allow small and family owned businesses to reinvest in the economy and create jobs.\nVan Hollen says the solution is to give middle income tax payers relief so they are able to buy more goods and services -- which is good for small business.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/ridgely-celebrates-150th-birthday", "Ridgely Celebrates 150th Birthday", "2017-09-28", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RIDGELY \u2014 The Town of Ridgely celebrate its 150th birthday Saturday, Sept. 23, with a large parade, ribbon cutting to open the restored train station and street festival with free rides.\nRidgely was founded in 1867 with land purchased by Thomas Bell and the Rev. Greenbury Ridgely, for whom the town is named.\nRidgely enjoyed a golden age of sorts in the first two decades of the 1900s. Multiple canneries and related businesses thrived as farmers, investors and pickers flocked to the bustling town. Local strawberries were especially in demand as growers made use of new refrigerated railroad cars to ship their produce all across the East Coast.\nMany homes and commercial buildings in the downtown area today, as well as civic organizations or traditions such as the volunteer fire department, athletic associations and a reputation for live music, stem from this period of prosperity. Each May, the Ridgely Lions Club hosts its annual Strawberry Festival to remember and honor the heritage of The Strawberry Capital.\nThe Mid-Shore Community Band kicked off the celebration with a performance at the Ridgely Train Station, leading up to the parade.\nAt noon, the parade began at Martin Sutton Park and went up Central Avenue to Belle Street. Participates included the North Caroline High School Band of Blue, Colonel Richardson High Marching Band, Ridgely Lions Club, local veterans, Ridgely Historical Society, grand marshal Tommy Rampmeyer and former Gov. Harry Hughes.\nAfter the parade, the community gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the restored Ridgely Train Station, which has been turned into an interpretive center for the town, to go along with the Rails to Tails and the historic Telephone Exchange Building next door.\nThe historic railroad depot, along Belle and Railroad streets in downtown Ridgely, opened in 1892. Ridgely\u2019s first railroad station, built by the Maryland and Baltimore City Land Association, stood near the Central Avenue crossing since the town\u2019s birth in 1867. The second floor of the station provided the first school for Ridgely until 1872. Then in 1892, Ridgely\u2019s brick railroad station was built with a porch, protecting patrons from rain showers and summer heat.\nThe Ridgely Historical Society took the lead in the grant writing process to secure funds to restore the town building. The project costs $407,700, with $326,160 coming from a Federal Transportation Alternatives Program Grant, $47,482 from a Department of Natural Resources Project Open Space Grant, $3,500 in donations from the historical society and $30,128 from the Town of Ridgely.\nRenovations included a covered deck surrounding the depot on four sides, and the construction of the roof over the deck along with rehabilitating the interior of the building. Ed Bombaro was the architect who designed the project. Ridgely Public Works Director David Crist was the project manager for the restoration.\nCaroline County Historical Society member J.O.K. Walsh spoke at the ceremony and commended Cathy and Rick Schwab of the Ridgely Historical Society for their dedication to restoring the Ridegly Train Station and celebrating the town\u2019s rich history.\n\u201cRidgely is a town of many great stories,\u201d he said. \u201cRidgely revolutionized the strawberry industry by shipping strawberries for the first time in refrigerated railroad cars. That is how Ridgely became known as the Strawberry Capital.\u201d\nSen. Steve Hershey, R-36-Upper Shore; Del. Jay Jacobs, R-36-Kent; Del. Jeff Ghrist, R-36-Caroline; Del. Steve Arentz, R-36-Queen Anne\u2019s; Caroline County Commissioners Larry Porter, Wilbur Levengood and Dan Franklin; U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-1st; and representatives for Gov. Larry Hogan and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., presented Ridgely commissioners Anthony Casey and John Buckle with proclamations for the town\u2019s 150th birthday and for the restoration of the train station.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve worked with so many wonderful people,\u201d Cathy Schwab said. \u201cThe town of Ridgely has always been behind us with this project.\n\u201cThis belongs to all of us,\u201d she said. \u201cWe all have history and roots here. That makes me very proud.\n\u201cThe train station was the hub of the town,\u201d said Cathy Schwab of the Ridgely Historical Society. \u201cThis is where people came. We\u2019ve had baseball heroes come in and out back in the day. Jimmie Foxx would come here to play with Home Run Baker.\n\u201cThis town is awesome,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are transplants, and we cannot believe the history in this town. It is awesome what we find here. We are proud to help restore this train station during the town\u2019s 150th anniversary.\u201d\nThe celebration culminated at dusk with a fireworks display.\nThe town\u2019s sesquicentennial year has been one for the history books with the opening of the new Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department fire station, the raising of the town\u2019s first flag designed by Yolanda Meyers, the annual Ridgely Lions Club Strawberry Festival and coming in October, the fourth appearance by NASCAR Richard Petty at the Ridgely Car Show, which will be held Sunday, Oct. 15.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/eagle-scout-project-honors-fallen-soldiers", "Eagle Scout Project Honors Fallen Soldiers", "2017-09-27", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GRASONVILLE \u2014 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7464 hosted the unveiling of an Eagle Scout Project designed and orchestrated by Troop 765 Life Scout Jacob McLaughlin, 17, of Queenstown on Saturday, Sept. 23.. Boy Scout Troop 765 is sponsored by Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville.\nJacob achieved his Life rank when he was 13 years old. A young man must organize and lead whatever project he chooses to do, as long as it is previously approved by the local Boy Scout Council. The Scout must write the plan up and present it to the council. If it is approved, he then can move forward in making it happen.\nIt took Jacob nearly four years to do the main work of his proposed project \u2014 to find the names of all Queen Anne\u2019s County residents who served in the armed forces and died in combat in all wars in American history, starting with the American Revolutionary War and going through every major war through today, including the war in Afghanistan.\nHis work produced exactly 200 names. After confirming all 200, he went about arranging to have the names listed on three large plaques to be mounted outside the VFW in Grasonville. First, there is a plaque representing all the soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War, 17 of those were African Americans, designated with an asterisk next to their names. Jacob said, \u201cThe African American soldiers were listed as being members of the USCT (United States Colored Troops). That was also the designation from the military records for all who served in the Civil War. There are 61 soldiers from Queen Anne\u2019s County who were African Americans who died during the Civil War.\u201d\nThat high number of African American deaths can be attributed to former slave owners of Queen Anne\u2019s County being reimbursed by the federal government to have their former slaves enlist to join the Union army to help fight against the Confederacy the last year of the war. Since Maryland had been a slave state prior to the start of the war, arrangements were made in Maryland for former slave owners to direct their slaves to help out the Union, so the former slave owners did not take a total loss of dollars from slave property. It was one of the few areas Abraham Lincoln\u2019s Emancipation Proclamation did not apply in Maryland. All slaves were not set free for nothing.\nAdding the numbers of African Americans who died in combat in World War I, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, another 35 African Americans from Queen Anne\u2019s County are accounted for. The total number of African Americans out of the total 200 is 113.\nThe dedication ceremony included the playing of \u201cThe Star Spangled Banner\u201d and comments from Congressman Andy Harris, who presented Jacob with an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.\nHarris said, \u201cEagle projects are special to serve the community, however, many Eagle projects don\u2019t last long. This one will last forever.\u201d\nThen, led first by Jacob, all 200 names were solemly read aloud. Ten different friends and family members participated in the reading, each reading approximately 20 names. At the conclusion of the reading, \u201cTaps\u201d was played. There were tears in a number of people\u2019s eyes at the ceremony remembering those from Queen Anne\u2019s County who gave their last full measure of devotion to the nation.\nCounty Commissioner Mark Anderson said, \u201cAll of the names of those listed on these plaques gave up their tomorrows for us today and for that American flag atop this flag pole. That we could all live in freedom.\u201d\nJacob spoke briefly to the audience about the hardest part of the work, \u201cgoing to all the different places to confirm the deaths of the many soldiers. I even went as far away as South Carolina!\u201d\nThough he has accomplished his Eagle Service Project, Jacob has still not achieved his ultimate goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. He has a few more requirements to finish before he turns 18, and must then complete an Eagle Board of Review (review of all requirements to achieve the rank of Eagle). Upon doing that, then he will be awarded Scouting\u2019s highest honor.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-visits-wye-house-childhood-home-frederick-douglass", "Congressman Harris Visits Wye House, Childhood Home of Frederick Douglass", "2017-09-22", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On September 21, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) visited Wye House, the historic plantation house in Talbot County where abolitionist and author Frederick Douglass spent part of his childhood. Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass spent part of his childhood on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, before escaping to freedom in 1838.\nDr. Mark Leone, an archaeologist and professor of Anthropology at the University of Maryland, led a recent excavation at Wye House. Dr. Leone toured the property with Congressman Harris and shared the findings of the excavation. Congressman Harris and Dr. Leone issued the following statements after the tour:\n\u201cIt is a privilege to explore the rich history of Frederick Douglass and the other enslaved peoples of Wye House, and it is truly remarkable to see firsthand the origins of modern African American heritage and culture. Frederick Douglass\u2019 work stretched far beyond the fight for legal freedom, into the equally important fight for social and cultural equality. The research conducted by Dr. Leone and his students at Wye House will allow Marylanders more access to the impressive history of Frederick Douglass and the resounding impact his work has had on modern American culture.\u201d\n--Congressman Andy Harris\n\u201cWye House is important to Frederick Douglass, to Talbot County, to Maryland, and to all of its descendants. Our commitment has been to discovering African American heritage through archaeology. [Our] discoveries show us the creative culture that Frederick Douglass knew and fought to free. The archaeology shows us the community that produced him and his values. Thus, preserving it during his bicentenary is guaranteeing American freedom.\u201d\n--Dr. Mark Leone\nEarlier this year, Congressman Harris and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At large) introduced H.R. 2989, the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act.\u00a0 The legislation will establish a commission to study and recommend to Congress activities that are fitting to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Frederick Douglass\u2019 birth.\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/psa-change-application-va-benefits", "PSA: Change in Application for VA Benefits", "2017-09-22", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PSA for all MD-01 residents utilizing or applying for VA benefits:\nAs of September 27, 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs will no longer operate the VONAPP website. Going forward, service members and their family members will make all online submissions through VA\u2019s\u00a0Vets.Gov\u00a0and eBenefits websites. Many applications for benefits will still be able to be filed in person, through VSOs, and by mail.\nIf you have questions about your VA benefits, please call my Salisbury office at 443-944-8624.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-releases-923-public-schedule", "Congressman Harris Releases 9/23 Public Schedule", "2017-09-21", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On September 23, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will attend the Eagle Scout project dedication ceremony of Jacob McLaughlin, which honors fallen servicemen from Queen Anne\u2019s County. The Congressman will also participate in the Town of Ridgely\u2019s 150th anniversary parade, where he will present a citation commemorating the town\u2019s anniversary. Members of the media are invited to attend both of these events.\nEagle Scout Project Dedication Ceremony\n Date: September 23, 2017\n\tTime: 11:00 \u2013 11:30 AM\n\tLocation: Grasonville VFW, 203 VFW Avenue, Grasonville, MD 21638\n Ridgely 150th Anniversary Parade\n Date: September 23, 2017\n\tTime:12:00 \u2013 1:00 PM\n\tStarting Location: Martin Sutton Park, intersection 4th Street and Park Avenue, Ridgely, MD 21660\n\tEnding Location: Ridgely Train Station, intersection of W. Railroad Street and Maryland Avenue, Ridgely, MD 21660\n To RSVP for these events, please contact Jacque Clark at 202-225-5311 or Jacque.Clark@mail.house.gov.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/position-clarification", "Position Clarification", "2017-09-15", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Editor,\nOcean City\u2019s economy depends heavily on summer tourism and seasonal workers. I have always supported efforts to ensure Maryland\u2019s businesses can find the employees they need to succeed.\nA recent story misstated my position on the J-1 visa program, which allows foreign students to come to America temporarily to work and experience our culture.\u00a0Since the inability to find American summertime workers has been an ongoing challenge for small businesses in Ocean City, I have consistently supported the J-1 visa program.\nOne of the other federal temporary worker visa programs, the H-2B program (which supplies seasonal workers to the seafood processing and tourism industries on the Eastern Shore), already requires businesses to seek American citizens to fill job openings before seeking visa workers.\nIf the Trump Administration decides to implement a similar requirement for the J-1 visa program, that requirement could be workable, and I would work to reduce the burden on Ocean City\u2019s small businesses as much as possible in fulfilling that requirement.\nI am proud of our local businesses and will continue to do everything in my power to support them and our economy.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I\u2019m so pleased that our president is also pursuing real tax reform that will help small businesses and middle-class workers.\nRep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-1st)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congress-needs-reform-its-spending-habits", "Congress Needs to Reform Its Spending Habits", "2017-09-08", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On September 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $7.85 billion emergency funding bill for Hurricane Harvey response and recovery. Two days later, on September 8, the House passed an amended version of the relief package that included raising the debt ceiling. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement on his votes:\n\u201cEarlier this week, I voted in favor of a $7.85 billion relief package for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Unfortunately, the bill I voted against today tied this funding to raising our federal debt ceiling by $600 billion without any plans for restructuring our government\u2019s irresponsible and wasteful spending habits. With a federal debt that now exceeds $20 trillion, I am willing to support funding to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey, but I cannot support continued mismanagement of our federal budget and spending.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-trump-rolling-back-obama-overreach-immigration", "President Trump is Rolling Back Obama Overreach on Immigration", "2017-09-05", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On September 5, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the end of the policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This 2012 policy allowed illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children to request deferred action on their immigration status and seek work authorization for two year periods. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of the decision:\n\u201cI strongly support President Trump\u2019s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The Obama-era policy is a gross overreach of executive power and undermined the authority of the legislative branch. President Trump is returning that power to Congress.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-announces-fall-military-service-academy-resource-forum", "Congressman Harris Announces Fall Military Service Academy Resource Forum", "2017-09-01", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On September 20, the Office of Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will host a Military Service Academy Resource Forum for high school students in Maryland\u2019s First Congressional District. All college-bound high school and eighth-grade students interested in attending a service academy and their parents are encouraged to attend.\nCongressman Harris has invited representatives from West Point and the Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and Naval Academies to attend. The Congressman\u2019s staff will also explain Dr. Harris\u2019 role in the nomination process. This event is an excellent opportunity for high school and eighth-grade students to explore their options for higher education. The deadline to apply for a nomination from Congressman Harris is October 30, 2017. Students can download the nomination application at https://harris.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations.\n Date: September 20, 2017\n\tTime: 6:00 \u2013 8:00 PM\n\tLocation: Todd Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679\n To RSVP for this event, please contact Dr. Harris\u2019 Kent Island office at 410-643-5425.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/andy-harris-discusses-tax-reform-health-care", "Andy Harris Discusses Tax Reform, Health Care", "2017-08-14", "2017", "2017-08", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CAMBRIDGE \u2014 The Cambridge Rotary Club hosted U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-1st, Thursday, Aug. 10, during his visit to the county.\nHarris discussed several topics, including tax reform, health care and foreign policy. He said he believes President Donald Trump will unite the country and help the country grow by packaging several key reforms together in a \u201cBig Deal\u201d to allow for greater bipartisan support so everyone gets something that will benefit them.\nHe said one way to help the Eastern Shore economy grow would be to lower the corporate tax rate. He said the Eastern Shore would be the perfect location for world-class manufacturing facilities because the area has a highly skilled workforce and reasonable cost of living.\n\u201cYou won\u2019t do that until you get our corporate tax rate policy right,\u201d Harris said. \u201cOur corporate tax rate is 35 percent, the highest among western nations. We are competing with Ireland, where the corporate tax rate is 13 percent.\u201d\nHe said Google uses Ireland to post its profits because of the country\u2019s lower tax rate compared to posting the profits in California.\n\u201cThere is bipartisan agreement to fix this,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we are going to get there.\u201d\nAnother business topic Harris discussed was the tax policy difference between Pass-Through Entities and C corps.\nHe said Pass-Through Entities are sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and S corporations, which are used by many small businesses, while C corps are separate taxable entities. He said three years ago, the tax rate for Pass-Through Entities surpassed C corps.\n\u201cYou are actually punished if you are a sole proprietor and you choose not to have a corporation,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is not right. We should equalize those two. We have to tackle that this fall. The president wants to make America open for business again. We have to attract businesses back to the United States. We are going to do that.\u201d\nOn the health care front, Harris said the topic continues to be a huge issue in Congress. He said before the Affordable Care Act, more than 40 million Americans were uninsured, and something had to change. He said the change, though, needs to be fixed because it did not work and is expensive.\nHe believes a single-payer system is not the answer.\n\u201cThe only way those systems work to save money is you tell people here is the person you are going to see, and this is when you are going to see them, and if you need something, you are going to wait in line,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is not the way Americans are. Americans just don\u2019t accept that.\u201d\nHarris said the solution should be to drastically cut the profit cap for the insurance companies from the current level of 20 percent.\n\u201cHonestly, it should be just several percent,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat the president wants to do, and I agree with him, is you allow larger associations, as well.\n\u201cYou want to assemble people into large pools that can self insure. Then you are not depending upon the insurance company. When the insurance company assembles the pool, then their profits are larger.\u201d\nHe said purchasing in other states would be helpful because it allows for larger pools.\n\u201cThe president strongly agrees in a multi-state market,\u201d he said.\nOn the foreign policy front, with North Korea and Russian in the news each day, Harris believes America showing strength is vital.\n\u201cI do believe you achieve peace through strength in this world,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that is the way the world works. There are a lot of bullies in the world.\n\u201cThey really only respond to one thing, and that is strength. That is how we won the Cold War. That is how we are going to prevail now.\u201d\nHarris said President Barack Obama experimented with the alternative, the diplomatic way, which included about 20 percent less spending for the military, but he believes the diplomatic way did not work.\n\u201cWorld peace is incredible important for our economy because we are the largest economy in the world,\u201d he said. \u201cWe depend upon free trade throughout the world to keep our economy going. Free trade doesn\u2019t occur when you don\u2019t have peace in the world. We are seeing some of that now in the South China Sea.\n\u201cI think this president is going to have the right balance. You speak softly, but you\u2019ve got to carry the big stick.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-prioritizes-border-security-appropriations-bill", "House of Representatives Prioritizes Border Security in Appropriations Bill", "2017-07-27", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On July 27, the House of Representatives voted to include nearly $1.6 billion of funding for border security projects in the Make America Secure Appropriations Act. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of this funding:\n\u201cAs a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Homeland Security Subcommittee, I have consistently voted in favor of this funding since the appropriations process began, and I am proud to vote in favor of this funding again today. Securing our nation\u2019s borders and cutting off illegal immigration are critical to our national security and sovereignty.\u00a0 I will continue to support efforts to add to the barriers protecting our border.\u201d\nThe House of Representatives will vote on the passage of the Make America Secure Appropriations Act later tonight.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/harris-introduces-bipartisan-bill-facilitating-medical-marijuana-research", "Harris Introduces Bipartisan Bill Facilitating Medical Marijuana Research", "2017-07-25", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On July 25, Representatives Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD-01), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19) introduced the Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2017. This bill heeds the calls of the medical research community to address the burdensome processes that currently hinder medical research on marijuana. This bipartisan bill removes barriers inhibiting medical marijuana research.\n\u201cAs a physician who has conducted NIH sponsored research, I cannot stress enough how critical this legislation is to the scientific community. Our drug policy was never intended to act as an impediment to conducting legitimate medical research. If we are going to label marijuana as medicine, we need to conduct the same rigorous scientific research on efficacy and safety that every other FDA approved treatment undergoes. This legislation will facilitate that research by removing the unnecessary administrative barriers that deter qualified researchers from thoroughly studying medical marijuana,\u201d said Dr. Harris.\n\u201cIn what world would such a backwards policy make sense? It\u2019s insane,\u201d said Rep. Blumenauer. \u201cWe need to stop blocking science and allow for patients to get the information they need to make decisions about their health care. Doctors, patient advocates, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree, and it\u2019s past time the federal government caught up.\u201d\n\u201cThere are countless reports of marijuana\u2019s medicinal benefits, but patients, doctors, pharmacists, and policymakers must have more to rely on than anecdotal evidence,\u201d said Congressman Griffith. \u201cRemoving the barriers that prevent further research on marijuana\u2019s medicinal benefits and possible side effects is the right thing to do, plain and simple.\u201d\n\u201cAnecdotal evidence suggests that marijuana may have potential medical applications, from utilizing non-psychoactive marijuana to ease the symptoms of epileptic sufferers, or simply to fight nausea for those undergoing cancer treatments,\u201d said Congresswoman Lofgren. \u201cUnfortunately, under the current federal regulatory structure, marijuana researchers are limited by marijuana\u2019s Schedule I classification. Enacting this bill will allow researchers and scientists the flexibility they need to fully study marijuana\u2019s potential medical applications.\u201d\nThe Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2017 addresses the major barriers currently faced by researchers who wish to conduct legitimate medical research with marijuana, a Schedule I drug. The bill creates a new, less cumbersome registration process specifically for marijuana research, reducing approval wait times, costly security measures, and additional, unnecessary layers of protocol review. This bill makes further reforms to both production and distribution regulations for marijuana, so once a scientist is approved to conduct medical marijuana research, the plant is easier to obtain. To this end, the bill also allows for the private manufacturing and distribution of marijuana solely for research purposes.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/harris-joins-turbine-site-location-fray", "Harris Joins Turbine Site Location Fray", "2017-07-21", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Local government\u2019s fight to keep wind turbines out of sight of vacationers in Ocean City picked up support this week from Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st).\nOn Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment proposed by Harris for the Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018.\nHarris\u2019 proposition would prohibit the use of federal funding for reviewing site assessments or construction and operations plans for wind turbines located less than 24 nautical miles from Maryland shorelines.\nOn May 11 the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) elected to permit two wind farm projects to proceed off the coast from Ocean City.\nDeepwater Wind hopes to have its Skipjack Wind Farm, located offshore between Maryland and Delaware, operational by 2023. Deepwater developed and operates the first working offshore wind turbine in the U.S., near Block Island, south of Rhode Island and east of Long Island.\n\u201cI was disappointed that the developers really don\u2019t appear to care whether or not these windmills are visible from the shore and what that effect would have on local real estate and the tourism industry,\u201d Harris said.\nThe congressman said the tourism industry is one of the primary economic engines driving commerce on the lower shore.\n\u201cStudies have shown pretty clearly that ruining the view-scape with wind turbines would be detrimental,\u201d he said.\nOcean City Mayor Rick Meehan spoke with Harris on Wednesday concerning the effort to locate the wind farms farther out to sea.\n\u201cI believe [Harris] supports Ocean City\u2019s position that we are not in opposition to the wind farms, we just don\u2019t want to see them off our coast,\u201d he said.\nMeehan said the town recognizes that the projects will promote economic growth for numerous Maryland jurisdictions.\n\u201cWe really would like to work with both companies, and with other jurisdictions, to support them in their efforts to move the windmills back beyond that 24, 25, 26-mile limit from the shoreline in Ocean City,\u201d he said.\nHarris also questioned the conclusion reached by the PSC that wind farms will have a positive impact on the local economy.\n\u201cIf you look at the people\u2019s counsel opinion on the Public Service Commission decision \u2026 they dwell on the fact that the economic impact has not been properly evaluated,\u201d he said. \u201cI think they discounted the negative economic impact on Ocean City.\u201d\nHarris also expressed concern about a possible increase in his constituents\u2019 electricity rates.\n\u201cIt will have a negative economic impact for every Maryland family because every \u2026 family is going to have to pay more on their monthly electric,\u201d he said.\nIn addition to the negative effect on tourism, Meehan cited other drawbacks.\n\u201cIf they\u2019re built as proposed, I believe they will have a detrimental impact, not just on tourism, but on property values,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have 26,000 property owners in Ocean City.\u201d\nWith a congressional recess scheduled for August, Harris is not anticipating a final action on his amendment until later this year.\n\u201cThis gives the developers several months to get together [and] reformulate the plan that is acceptable to Ocean City,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping that everyone can come to an agreement by then so that I can withdraw the need for this amendment to remain in the final bill.\u201d\nMeehan also hopes an amicable arrangement can be reached.\n\u201cWe only get one chance to get this right and I think our goal is to all work together \u2026 so that it\u2019s right for Ocean City and it\u2019s also right for business development that other jurisdictions see from this project,\u201d he said. \u201cHopefully, we can come to what would be a win-win situation for everybody.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/assisted-suicide-measure-takes-effect-washington-dc", "Assisted-Suicide Measure Takes Effect in Washington, D.C.", "2017-07-19", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A new measure took effect on Monday in the nation\u2019s capital, allowing doctors and pharmacies to provide terminally ill patients with life-ending medication. Washington, D.C.\u2019s mayor signed the Death with Dignity Act last December, but the measure wasn\u2019t implemented until this week. \nCity law now allows D.C. residents older than 18 to obtain a prescription for medications to end their lives, only if they are terminally ill and receive approval from a doctor. Participation is voluntary for doctors and pharmacies; not all medical professionals in the district are willing to prescribe and dispense lethal medications. \nThe law requires that patients make two requests to a doctor to end their life, 15 days apart. If their requests are granted, they must obtain the drugs and take their own life in a private place. With this law, D.C. joins the six states that already permit physician-assisted suicide: Oregon, Washington, Colorado, California, Montana, and Vermont. \nBut opponents of the law aren\u2019t quite ready to give up: Just last week, the House Appropriations Committee advanced a measure to repeal it. The amendment in question was introduced by Andy Harris, a Maryland GOP congressman who is also a medical doctor. \nWhile D.C.\u2019s mayor insists that Congress shouldn\u2019t be able to abolish the ordinance, Harris has pointed out correctly that the federal government has jurisdiction over the city. \u201cWe have the absolute ability to judge anything that the District of Columbia does that we think is bad, bad policy,\u201d Harris said during debate. \u201cThis is really bad policy.\u201d \nIn a statement last Friday, Harris summarized much of the opposition to assisted-suicide legislation. \u201cNew, stunning cures in medicine occur each and every day,\u201d he said. \u201cEncouraging patients to commit suicide deprives them of the opportunity to potentially be cured by new treatments that could ameliorate their condition and even add years to their lives, if not cure them completely.\u201d \nHarris\u2019s statement also helps to partially explain why there are opponents of right-to-die laws on both sides of the political spectrum. It\u2019s not as simple as \u201csocial conservatives\u201d wishing to see their belief in the sanctity of life amplified by law, although that\u2019s part of it.\nSome believe that assisted-suicide laws will lead doctors to encourage patients to take advantage of lethal drugs rather than pursue new, experimental procedures that might succeed. Others argue that these laws make euthanasia more likely, as families might pressure relatives into choosing \u201cdeath with dignity\u201d rather than continuing to receive costly treatment. Many are concerned that individuals with depression or anxiety might turn to these drugs in a time of despair. \nGiven the lack of reporting on how many people have taken their own lives under these laws to this point, it has been difficult to conduct sound research on their effects. But at least one scholar has pieced together significant evidence that assisted-suicide laws tend to decrease the quality of palliative and end-of-life care, as well as increase overall suicide rates. \nHopefully none of these harmful effects will manifest themselves in D.C. as this new policy takes effect.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-committee-approves-harris-amendment-ocean-city-wind-turbines", "House Committee Approves Harris Amendment on Ocean City Wind Turbines", "2017-07-18", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On July 18, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment introduced by Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) to the Interior Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2018.\u00a0 This amendment blocks the use of federal funds to conduct reviews of site assessment or construction and operation plans for wind turbines less than 24 nautical miles from the State of Maryland shoreline \u2013 the distance at which the turbines would not be visible from the shoreline and affecting the viewscape.\u00a0 Congressman Harris issued the following statement praising the amendment\u2019s passage:\n\u201cOcean City\u2019s economy heavily relies on its real estate and tourism sectors, and there has not yet been a proper examination on whether construction of these wind turbines will have a negative economic impact on the community. If construction of these turbines too close to the shoreline will reduce property value or tourism, then the turbines may cause more issues than they solve.\nFurthermore, the Offshore Wind Energy Act (OWEA) guarantees that ratepayers across Maryland cannot be asked to contribute funds to a proposed project that does not ensure positive economic, environmental and health benefits to the State.\u00a0 Neither US Wind nor Skipjack \u2013 the offshore wind developers responsible for the project proposal \u2013 have provided evidence that this project will result in the positive benefits that the OWEA outlines.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/why-anti-pot-lawmaker-pushing-marijuana-research", "Why an Anti-Pot Lawmaker is Pushing for Marijuana Research", "2017-07-14", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Andy Harris, M.D., is a towering, surprisingly skinny 60-year-old, but as he walks the halls of Congress no heads turn. Tourists haven't heard of him, national reporters mostly ignore him and rarely does a single one of the thousands of camera phones on the Capitol grounds come out to capture a shot of the four-term Republican from Maryland. While that seemingly perpetual level of anonymity is par for the course for most of the nation's 435 members of the House of Representatives, Harris has gained notoriety in Washington. Not the Washington we see on T.V., adorned in marble, starched collars and bullshit banter, but the gritty little city surrounding the seat of the federal government that struggles with segregation, high incarceration rates and a few residents still struggling to kick their PCP or opioid habits.\nIt's in that Washington that Harris is known as legal marijuana's greatest foe, because he successfully got Congress to step in and block local Washington officials from setting up a regulatory regime for weed after voters overwhelmingly approved recreational marijuana at the ballot box.But the conservative member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus is an original co-sponsor of legislation that could make marijuana users everywhere smile, because it turns the current debate over pot on its head \u2013 connecting the far right to the progressive left when it comes to marijuana.\nWhile Harris opposes most cannabis use, even for most medicinal purposes, he's a smart guy who studied anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins University, and he sees himself as a pragmatist. So while he hates weed and thinks it's a dangerous gateway drug, he also recognizes the federal prohibition on all forms of marijuana has left the nation void of serious science on the plant that people are now legally smoking, munching on and vaping from coast to coast. That's why Harris has teamed up with some of the more pro-pot lawmakers to push legislation that loosens the classification of weed so that universities, hospitals and the private sector can finally study marijuana without fear of getting in trouble with the feds.\u00a0\nWhile most proponents of the bill think research on weed will prove its medicinal qualities, Harris thinks the opposite. \"As a physician, I believe it's going to show it's really not helpful in a whole lot of diseases,\" Rep. Harris tells\u00a0Rolling Stone.\u00a0\"And in fact what will be shown to be helpful \u2013 as has been [shown] in a lot of the diseases where it's useful \u2013are actually not the whole marijuana plant but purified components of marijuana, like CBD or THC.\"\nThe current roadblocks for researching weed stem from it being\u00a0classified as a Schedule I narcotic. That puts marijuana in the same category as heroin, LSD and peyote, while cocaine is merely a Schedule II narcotic. When weed was so stringently scheduled in the 1970s it was mostly used by blacks and Latinos, so many drug experts argue the classification was racist at its core. Others say there were cultural issues at play, because back then white middle-class parents and lawmakers didn't want their kids to get a hold of the plant that was most associated with anti-war protests and hippies.\nBut times have rapidly changed, as the majority of states now allow some form of medicinal marijuana and eight states and the District of Columbia now allow legal recreational weed. Initially lawmakers pushing this new proposal, dubbed the Medical Marijuana Research Act, had wanted to give marijuana its own classification \u2013 Schedule I C \u2013 but instead they agreed to go the less controversial route and just keep marijuana listed as a Schedule I, while drastically reducing the restrictions on studying weed and expediting the review process for research applications at the Department of Justice. The bill would give an exemption for studying marijuana that the DOJ would never grant to people who wanted to research, say, peyote or heroin. All sides agree the current hurdles erected to keep people from researching weed have left a void of knowledge on pot.\n\"The research is bad,\" continues Harris. \"I mean, there's really very little research on the medical application of marijuana.\" He argues marijuana has only been proven to help in a very small subset of patients: some pediatric epileptic patients, people with HIV/AIDS who report weed gives them relief from their heavy drug cocktails and cancer patients who say marijuana gives them pain relief an appetite as they go through chemotherapy.\n\"Once you get past those three, maybe some people with myoclonus from multi-sclerosis, there really is little evidence. There's no evidence really on PTSD \u2013 no good objective evidence,\" says Harris, who was a Navy medical commander during Operation Desert Storm. \"You know the latest claim that is totally unfounded is that somehow we should use medical marijuana to treat opioid dependence. If we're going to call it a medicine, we need to approach marijuana the same way we would approach anything else that's sold as a medicine in the United States, and that is with rigorous scientific research. Which is just too difficult to do under the current rules.\"\nRep. Morgan Griffith is also a member of the Freedom Caucus who opposes recreational marijuana, but he supports some forms of medicinal marijuana, especially for kids suffering from epileptic seizures. He learned of the issue when one of his Virginia constituents was forced to move to Colorado in order to legally buy CBD oils for her daughter. Once they moved and could access the lifesaving oil, they reported going from 300 seizures a week down to just two or three. That touched a nerve.\n\"So we got a bunch of parents out there who love their children who are trying to do the right thing, who don't care about the law \u2013 they care about their children,\" Griffith tells\u00a0Rolling Stone. \"And we're making them into criminals by making them have to cook this up themselves. It's outrageous \u2013 and they don't know what the right level is.\"\nThink of the new proposal as a high stakes game of legislative poker: Rep. Harris is putting his money where his mouth is and betting the science will be on his side, while the pro-pot lawmakers are seeing his bet.\n\"The deal that Andy and I worked out was, let's at least get legal possibilities to do extensive research. And once we have the science then we can argue about whether or not there's a legitimate medicinal use. I think there is, he thinks there isn't, but he's welcoming the science to be done,\" Griffith continues. \"You know most of your research facilities don't want to invest in something where they might be in trouble a year from now or two years from now. So we want to give them that stability that as long as you're using it to research for medicinal purposes, let's use it. And of course as I've always said, if we can use opiates and barbiturates, we certainly ought to be able to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.\"\nProponents of the bill think it will easily pass, especially because Harris is an original sponsor of the legislation and party leaders often defer to him on weed because he's a doctor and is more passionate in his opposition to weed than most in the party. Having him on the bill gives moderate and more conservative Republicans cover. But now the question is when can proponents get the legislation on the floor \u2013 and that may prove difficult because of the lingering health care debate and the dark cloud of the Russia investigation that hangs over everything and seems to expand weekly.\n\"Things have been a little upsetting around here. You know people are distracted. But my intention is to work with Andy and get that moving, early in this Congress, to stop the prohibition on research,\" Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon lawmaker who is the most vocal marijuana advocate in Congress and original sponsor of the scheduling bill, tells\u00a0Rolling Stone. \"The federal government has been a tremendous obstacle, and there shouldn't be these unresolved questions. We should be able to have product uniformity. We shouldn't have to guess about the impacts. I mean, there's anecdotal evidence that is very powerful, but it should be peer-reviewed, gold standard research, and the federal government has prevented that. And I don't think anybody objects to being able to get rid of those obstacles.\"\nThat's why Harris, that anti-pot doctor, continues to work behind the scenes to convince skeptical Republicans to support the bill.\n\"I would make the argument to them, this is really just common sense. This is not expanding recreational marijuana,\" he says. \"This is just saying, 'Look, we believe that Americans patients deserve that same level of scrutiny that we give any other thing that we call medicine in this country. I don't want to deny anyone, any patient in America, access to a drug that's been shown to work. It's been my entire career in legislating trying to expand access to drugs that work. The fact of the matter is just [that there's] very, very poor evidence that, outside a very small range of diseases, marijuana is in fact an efficacious medicine.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-committee-approves-harris-chesapeake-bay-amendment", "House Committee Approves Harris Chesapeake Bay Amendment", "2017-07-13", "2017", "2017-07", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On July 13, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment introduced by Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2018. This amendment prohibits the use of funds to implement or enforce the designation of any area of the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a \u201cCritical Habitat\u201d for the Atlantic Sturgeon. Congressman Harris issued the following statement praising the amendment\u2019s passage:\n\u201cThe Appropriations Committee\u2019s adoption of this amendment is a victory for both the conservation of the Bay and the Eastern Shore\u2019s economy. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) proposal to designate the Chesapeake Bay as a Critical Habitat for the Atlantic Sturgeon was crafted without adequate opportunity for input from the communities surrounding the Chesapeake Bay. Furthermore, NOAA has failed to document sufficient cause for the designation.\nDesignation of the Bay as a Critical Habitat for the Sturgeon is an unnecessary and burdensome regulation that could lead to restricted use of various regions of the Bay, stifling commercial activity in the Bay and inhibiting oyster restoration and other important conservation activities.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-opens-application-military-service-academy-nominations", "Congressman Andy Harris Opens Application for Military Service Academy Nominations", "2017-06-30", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Military Service Academies nomination application is now available for those wishing to join the class of 2022. Congressman Harris will nominate some of the finest young men and women from Maryland\u2019s First Congressional District for appointments to the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies. The Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination, though Congressman Harris will recommend interested applicants on a case-by-case basis.\nAdmission is based on SAT/ACT scores, class rank, physical aptitude scores, extracurricular activities, leadership ability, athletic abilities, medical examinations, and a panel interview. Academies accept applications on a rolling basis beginning in September. Final acceptance is also contingent upon receiving a nomination from an authorized source such as one's Congressman or Senator.\nThe deadline to apply for a nomination from Congressman Harris is October 30, 2017. All residents of the First District between the ages of 17 and 23 are encouraged to apply. Interviews will be conducted by Congressman Harris\u2019 Military Academy Review Board, which is made up of veterans and reservists of the United States military. Interviews will be conducted in the fall, and the Service Academies will be notified of Congressman Harris\u2019 nominations by December 31, 2017.\nStudents can download the nomination application at https://harris.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations. For questions, please call the Kent Island District Office at 410-643-5425.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-applauds-passage-kate-s-law-and-no-sanctuary-criminals-act", "Rep. Harris Applauds Passage of Kates Law and No Sanctuary for Criminals Act", "2017-06-29", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On June 29, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, and H.R. 3004, Kate\u2019s Law. These bills will improve public safety by combating dangerous sanctuary city policies and strengthening penalties for deported criminal immigrants who re-enter the United States. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of these bills and their passage:\n\u201cI am proud to have voted for the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act and Kate\u2019s Law. These bills are commonsense solutions to preventing crime and keeping the American people safe. For years, the Obama Administration allowed criminal illegal immigrants to roam our streets and harm innocent Americans. Kate Steinle, the namesake of Kate\u2019s Law, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in San Francisco \u2013 a sanctuary city. The man that killed Ms. Steinle had been deported and re-entered the United State five times \u2013 and if the San Francisco government had not allowed criminal immigrants to walk freely in its city, Kate would still be with us today. The Federal Government must enforce the rule of law, and owes justice to the families of victims like Kate, whose death could have easily been prevented.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-medical-liability-reform", "House of Representatives Passes Medical Liability Reform", "2017-06-28", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On June 28, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act (PACA), by a 218-210 vote. This medical liability reform legislation will prevent lawsuit abuse by capping noneconomic damages and limiting contingency fees for attorneys. Dr. Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the legislation and passage:\n\u201cPACA is a victory for patients that will increase access to high quality medical care and reduce health care costs. Lawsuit abuse forces physicians to practice defensive medicine, meaning that patients undergo unnecessary and expensive treatments to reduce the risk of litigation. This legislation will provide balanced protections for both patients and their providers, improve the quality of health care, lower the cost of premiums, and save the federal taxpayer tens of billions of dollars. This is a commonsense solution to lower the cost of care, and should have been passed under the Obama Administration years ago.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/harris-co-sponsors-bill-celebrate-frederick-douglass", "Harris Co-Sponsors Bill to Celebrate Frederick Douglass", "2017-06-27", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Andy Harris has co-sponsored a bill that would create a commission to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of famed former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.\nIn a statement issued by his office the Eastern Shore Republican called Douglass the father of the civil rights movement.\nThe measure to create the commission is co-sponsored by D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.\nDouglas was born in Talbot County in 1818 and escaped from slavery in 1838.\nHe later become a leader in the abolitionist movement as a speaker and writer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-applauds-supreme-court-decision-allow-travel-restrictions", "Congressman Harris Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Allow Travel Restrictions", "2017-06-26", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On June 26, the United States Supreme Court announced its plan to consider a case on the President\u2019s authority over immigration. The Supreme Court also unanimously decided today to partially enact President Trump\u2019s Executive Order Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of these decisions:\n\u201cI applaud the Supreme Court\u2019s decision to hear the case on President Trump\u2019s executive order that would restrict entry into the United States from six countries with a heightened risk of terrorism.\u00a0While the case is pending, I also support the Court\u2019s decision to allow the President to immediately implement restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals without clear ties to the United States. As we have seen in recent months, groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda are very real threats to the safety and security of the American people. The Federal Government should utilize all available resources to protect its citizens.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/harris-and-norton-introduce-legislation-honoring-frederick-douglass", "Harris and Norton Introduce Legislation Honoring Frederick Douglass", "2017-06-26", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On June 21, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) in conjunction with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At large) introduced H.R. 2989, the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act. This legislation will establish a commission to study and recommend to Congress activities that are fitting to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Frederick Douglass\u2019 birth. Congressman Harris released the following statement on the legislation:\n\u201cFrederick Douglass is the father of the civil rights movement, and all Americans can benefit from studying his remarkable life. Born on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore, through his own hard work and determination, Douglass rose out of slavery to become an author, journalist, abolitionist, and symbol for equality. Frederick Douglass\u2019 long record of government service further demonstrates the need to honor his civic contributions. His lifelong dedication to freedom and equality should serve as an inspiration to all Americans, and these values must be shared with generations to come.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rolling-back-dapa-encourages-legal-immigration", "Rolling Back DAPA Encourages Legal Immigration", "2017-06-16", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On June 15, President Trump rolled back the program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). The Obama-era program is an extension of another program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allowed children brought into the United States illegally to remain in the country. DAPA would have exempted parents of children covered by DACA from deportation. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of President Trump\u2019s decision:\n\u201cI support the cancellation of plans to exempt illegal immigrants from lawful deportation. The plan would have unilaterally expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program without authorization by Congress. While courts had previously ruled against the Obama-era policy and blocked its implementation, this decision by the Trump administration will encourage the legal entry of vetted people into the United States \u2013 which helps protect our security and enforce the rule of law.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-will-not-support-human-rights-violations-cuba", "The U.S. Will Not Support Human Rights Violations in Cuba", "2017-06-16", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: This week, President Trump announced plans to revise components of former President Obama\u2019s opening to Cuba. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement expressing support for the change in policy:\n\u201cPresident Trump continues to deliver on his campaign promises. The Cuban government is a military dictatorship guilty of gross human rights violations. Unfortunately, funds from U.S. companies and tourists are benefitting the Communist regime and its military \u2013 not the Cuban people. The president\u2019s swift action ensures that business transactions between American companies and legitimate Cuban companies empower the Cuban people and promote a fair society. The U.S. Embassy in Havana will remain open, and the U.S. government will continue to promote democracy in Cuba. It is important that we, as a nation, do not encourage the Cuban regime\u2019s political and religious persecution of its own people.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/epa-announces-chesapeake-bay-grant-awards", "EPA Announces Chesapeake Bay Grant Awards", "2017-06-13", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of more than $4.2 million in grants supporting the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of these grant awards:\n\u201cI am pleased to see the EPA provide support to local initiatives benefitting the Chesapeake Bay. The health of the Chesapeake Bay is the responsibility of multiple states, not just Maryland and Virginia, and is a critical component of the economy of Maryland\u2019s First Congressional District. I also applaud the men and women in Maryland working at the grassroots level to keep the Bay clean.\u201d\nThe MD Department of Natural Resources will receive $4,088,335 of this funding for the Chesapeake Bay Implementing Grant (CBIG) program. Chesapeake Stormwater Network Inc. will receive $108,400 in funding to accelerate the implementation of nutrient and sediment load reduction practices, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin will invest its $61,017 grant award into data management and analysis services that will produce accessible water quality and biological monitoring data.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-announces-second-june-tele-town-hall", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces Second June Tele-Town Hall", "2017-06-09", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: After connecting with more than 3,200 constituents during his June 6 event, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will hold another telephone town hall this month for the residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne\u2019s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. The Congressman\u2019s office will automatically call out to nearly 80,000 constituents living in these counties, pulling phone numbers from the constituent services database. If constituents prefer to be called on a certain phone number, they can list that number through the link below.\nQuestions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris\u2019 DC office at (202) 225-5311.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/lab-congress-lawmaker-wages-solo-fight-shake-nih", "From the Lab to Congress: A Lawmaker Wages a Solo Fight to Shake Up the NIH", "2017-06-08", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The \u201ctelephone\u201d town hall began as most do.\nThere was an early question from a constituent about the financial solvency of Social Security, another about the recent passage of a bill\u00a0to repeal the Affordable Care Act, then a pointed query as to why the telephone town hall was a telephone town hall and not an in-person one.\nIn his responses, Rep. Andy Harris, sitting in an office that at first glance looked almost too ordinarily Republican \u2014 a carved wooden elephant, a metallic elephant, a pair of glass elephants painted in stars and stripes, and a portrait of Ronald Reagan \u2014 nearly fell into a script that this year has become familiar for members of Congress.\nBut then another voice crackled through an aide\u2019s speakerphone.\n\u201cI\u2019m 28 years old, I\u2019m a stage 4 colon cancer patient, and I am being treated at Johns Hopkins,\u201d a woman said. \u201cI read recently that \u2026 you are in favor of NIH cuts to institutions\u00a0that use NIH funds for operational costs, or indirect costs.\u201d\nHow, she asked, could Hopkins researchers afford to keep the lights on if many of their overhead expenditures were no longer funded by the NIH?\nHarris, a fourth-term congressman from Maryland, wished her well in her treatment, then dove into a question he felt uniquely qualified to answer.\n\u201cWe need to look at indirect costs,\u201d Harris replied, \u201cbecause we could probably fund 6,000 more research projects if we just brought the indirect costs paid by the federal taxpayer down to the levels that are paid by, you know, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.\u201d\nHarris is without question deeply knowledgeable on NIH issues. He is a former Johns Hopkins research physician whose work the agency funded for a decade. One study, on the \u201ccerebrovascular effects of intravenous dopamine infusions in fetal sheep,\u201d is published\u00a0in the Journal of Applied Physiology. He has also kept a close eye on the federal government\u2019s research arm.\nBut in the months following President Trump\u2019s inauguration, he has pursued what is perhaps an unexpected mission given his background: changing the way the NIH spends its money.\nHarris has proven to be one of the White House\u2019s few outspoken allies in its fight to shake up the agency, though even he differs from the White House in terms of an endgame. Both want to slash NIH payments for indirect expenses, which many scientists and university administrators say could irreparably damage their broader research funding framework.\nBut while the White House wants to fund the same amount of research with less money \u2014 Trump\u2019s budget outline\u00a0in May included \u201can indirect cost rate for NIH grants that will be capped at 10 percent of total research\u201d \u2014 Harris wants to maintain the agency\u2019s overall budget and use the savings to fund thousands more research projects.\n\u201cI was a physician scientist,\u201d Harris said in an interview with STAT. \u201cThat was my background. I was an academic physician, did both clinical and basic science research \u2014 so I think there\u2019s a role for the federal government and a role for the United States in biomedical research. I want to get that right.\u201d\nIn Congress, however, his is largely a solo fight. Harris was the only lawmaker to side with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price on the issue of indirect costs during a March budget hearing, when Price used the issue to justify a proposed $5.8 billion cut\u00a0to the agency in 2018. Last year, the NIH awarded $6.4 billion for indirect costs at research institutions.\nHe has also voiced skepticism on how the NIH spends its money generally, lamenting that too little is used directly to fund research projects. When the White House first proposed the cut to the 2018 budget, Democrats cried foul. Republicans, by and large, were quieter but no less resolute in their opposition, and shot down an additional request to cut $1.2 billion from the agency\u2019s 2017 spending.\nBut when the House\u2019s appropriations health subcommittee invited NIH Director Francis Collins\u00a0to testify last month, it was only Harris who took an adversarial tone with Collins.\n\u201cIt sounds like there\u2019s a different standard for the American taxpayer,\u201d he said to Collins at one point.\nTogether, Harris and Price have driven the NIH funding conversation as the 2018 budget process continues to play out, and the congressman could be helpful to the administration on other issues. Their comments on research funding paint a picture of what the agency could look like in the future with Harris at the helm, thought to be a possibility in January as Trump mulled whether to keep Collins.\nHarris has filed a bill that would prevent universities that have declared themselves \u201csanctuary campuses,\u201d pledging non-cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement, from receiving federal funds for indirect research costs.\nAnd while he did not sign on a recent letter from 41 anti-abortion Republican colleagues asking the president not to re-appoint Collins because his views regarding embryonic stem cell research and human cloning \u201care not life-affirming,\u201d Harris was quickly able to rattle off a list of, in his view, moral trouble spots inside the agency.\n\u201cThere are several issues, potentially, that could cross ethical boundaries at the NIH,\u201d Harris said. \u201cThe \u2018three-parent embryos,\u2019 though that\u2019s mostly the FDA; the human-animal chimera experiments; there\u2019s embryonic stem cell research; there\u2019s research using fetal tissue.\u201d\nHarris suggested that such research should be funded exclusively by non-federal sources. But he doesn\u2019t think states should step in to fund research for which there is no ethical consensus. In 2005, in fact, Harris worked in the Maryland legislature to unite Republicans and some conservative Democrats in a filibuster over state funding for embryonic stem cell research. \u201cFor states to delve into this is very much beyond the role of state government,\u201d he told the Washington Post\u00a0then.\nHe also wrote in January that a House investigation\u00a0had uncovered \u201cshameful practices\u201d with regard to, among other topics, the NIH\u2019s procurement of fetal tissue for research. \u201cLaws were being skirted,\u201d Harris said, adding that he had brought up his concerns with Collins directly.\nHarris was previously seen as a candidate\u00a0to lead the NIH, and in the interview with STAT, he said \u201cif the president thinks I can help him, I\u2019d be more than willing to discuss that at an appropriate time.\u201d\nBut with Tuesday\u2019s news that Collins will remain in office, the conversation about a potential NIH leadership role became one for the future. Harris for now seems content to make the 60-mile Capitol commute from his home in Cockeysville, Md., each day Congress is in session, and to continue practicing medicine \u2014 he is an anesthesiologist with a subspecialty in obstetrics \u2014 at Easton Memorial Hospital in Maryland, just often enough to keep his medical license.\nThat\u2019s not to say that in his current role he won\u2019t tout his unique expertise.\nWhile some colleagues have found Harris willing to collaborate on controversial legislation, some Democrats say they have found it difficult to work with Harris even on a committee whose debates are largely amicable.\nOn some issues, there has been bipartisan cooperation. Harris and Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, a Democrat, later this year plan to reintroduce a bill to streamline the Justice Department\u2019s approval process for researchers hoping to work with marijuana\u00a0to measure its efficacy as a treatment for some medical conditions. Blumenauer, a proponent of relaxing marijuana laws, and Harris, who has largely opposed medical marijuana use, are likely expecting different research outcomes. But Harris said he is open to either verdict, so long as it\u2019s based on new, scientifically gathered data.\nA belief in evidence-based policymaking, however, may be in the eye of the beholder. Harris, during the town hall, joined the growing chorus of GOP voices that have questioned the value of projections published by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, long viewed as an objective body that helps legislators evaluate their own work. But especially with regard to its projections for the recently passed American Health Care Act, Harris has become disillusioned.\n\u201cYou must have more faith in the CBO than I did,\u201d he said in response to one question, \u201cbecause the CBO underestimated by at least 50 percent the number of people, when it scored the initial Affordable Care Act, who would be on [its exchanges]. It underestimated the cost of the initial act.\u201d\nAt the same time, Harris said, \u201cthe CBO score was no surprise to anybody\u201d \u2014 by removing the ACA\u2019s individual mandate, it followed naturally that fewer people would buy insurance.\nThat stance \u2014 and the one on indirect costs \u2014 show if nothing else that Harris is not one to shy away from unpopular positions.\n\u201cHe\u2019s not one who just loves to speak out,\u201d said North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, of which Harris is a member. \u201cBut when he speaks out, people listen \u2026 and he\u2019s also willing to take very difficult stands, being on the Appropriations Committee.\u201d\nYet on the issue of indirect costs, Harris has failed to generate much traction \u2014 Democrats uniformly oppose it, and Republican influencers seem to find the idea half-baked at best.\nMany in Washington would be surprised if Congress passes a full budget in September, in any case. And even if there is a budget, said Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the Republican who chairs the appropriations health subcommittee, 2018 is too quick a target for a major change to the NIH\u2019s funding structure.\n\u201cAnything we did, we would phase in over time,\u201d Cole said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not prepared at this point to say that we\u2019re doing things wrong. I think it\u2019s an interesting question to be discussed.\u201d\nCole, who called Harris \u201cone of the most gifted members of the committee,\u201d did agree with Harris that if any cap on indirect costs is instituted, the savings should go toward funding additional research instead of padding the federal bottom line.\nBut the argument that such a cut would not diminish the quality of research \u201chas not been made very well,\u201d Cole said, who added that he heard that case made mainly by budget hawks and not academics.\n\u201cThe people that are making it to me are not scientists or researchers or people that run [research facilities],\u201d Cole continued.\nAll of them, of course, except for one.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/beach-replenishment-gets-fed-funding-boost", "Beach Replenishment Gets Fed. Funding Boost", "2017-06-02", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Joining the $4.5 million in state funds already allocated for this year\u2019s beach replenishment project, which is scheduled to start after Labor Day this year, is another $2.45 million from the Army Corps of Engineers, according to a release from Congressman Andy Harris\u2019 office.\n\u201cThe beaches of Ocean City were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and I am pleased to see the Army Corps of Engineers working with Ocean City officials to fund and complete the beach replenishment project. This project will restore our beaches and encourage growth in the city\u2019s tourism industry,\u201d Harris said in the release.\nHarris had requested clarification from the corps at the end of March, after he learned the money had not yet been allocated for the project. The release was timed with the corps\u2019 reply to his concern.\nAccording to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the repair project will include pumping approximately 371,000 cubic yards of sand onto the beach to replace sand lost during the January 2016 winter storm.\nAdditionally, up to another 512,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed to replenish the beach and berm to bring the project up to design standards.\nAfter Hurricane Gloria in 1985, officials recognized the need to mitigate storm damage and erosion and embarked on the replenishment program. The resort had a building limit line, but property owners could build right up to it, which precluded the construction and maintenance of dunes between them and the ocean.\nIt took until 1988 to get all 284 voluntary public easements in place to allow the project and to carve out the dune line and the 10-foot walkways between the dunes.\nThe seawall that protects the Boardwalk was also installed around this time.\nThe sand will be pumped from a borrow area three miles offshore.\n\u201cI\u2019m proud the entire Maryland delegation continues to support our beach,\u201d State Sen. Jim Mathias said. \u201cI\u2019ve always said the two best things that happened to Ocean City in the 20th century were the bay bridge and beach replenishment.\u201d\nCity officials estimate that the program has prevented an estimate $900 million in storm damages in its nearly 30 years in existence.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-lauds-9m-federal-grant-implement-positive", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Lauds $9M Federal Grant to Implement Positive Train Control on MARC Trains", "2017-06-02", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On June 2, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01), in conjunction with Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), John K. Delaney (MD-06), Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation\u00a0announced\u00a0a $9 million grant to the Maryland Transportation Administration (MTA) for the installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) technology \u2013 a crash-avoidance rail-safety system that can automatically prevent collisions \u2013 along the MARC Train Penn Line, which connects Baltimore to Washington, D.C.:\n\u201cEvery day, thousands of Marylanders use the MARC trains to commute to work. This grant is a critical investment in Maryland\u2019s infrastructure, which will allow the state to implement life-saving Positive Train Control technology on the MARC\u2019s Penn Line and keep Marylanders safe.\u201d\nThe PTC system will cover a total distance of 77 miles from the Perryville, MD MARC Station to Union Station in Washington, DC.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/paris-accord-bad-deal-american-people", "The Paris Accord is a Bad Deal for the American People", "2017-06-01", "2017", "2017-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On June 1, President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Accord. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement regarding the President\u2019s decision:\n\u201cUnder the Paris Accord, the United States would pay trillions of dollars in economic costs and lose millions of jobs, while China is permitted to increase its emissions through 2030. President Obama made a bad deal, and President Trump can do better. Any new international climate agreement should be ratified by the U.S. Senate, as outlined in the Constitution.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-announces-june-tele-town-hall", "Congressman Harris Announces June Tele-Town Hall", "2017-05-31", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On Tuesday, June 6 at 5:30 PM, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will hold a telephone town hall to answer questions and hear the concerns of constituents living in Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, and Harford Counties. The Congressman\u2019s office will call out to nearly 80,000 constituents living in these four counties, pulling phone numbers from the constituent services database.\nConstituents in these counties who would like to ensure they receive a call can contact Congressman Harris\u2019 DC office at (202) 225-5311. Similar events will be held in the coming weeks for residents of other MD-01 counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-announces-2017-congressional-art-competition-winner", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces 2017 Congressional Art Competition Winner", "2017-05-30", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) is pleased to announce the winner of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition: Laura Marsh of Crisfield High School and Academy in Crisfield, Maryland. Laura\u2019s mixed media painting, titled \u201cTurning Tides,\u201d depicts a great blue heron with a Maryland blue crab in its mouth, flying across the water in front of a lighthouse.\n\u201cAll of the submissions that my office received this year were impressive, and I am proud of all of the talented young artists who participated in this year\u2019s competition,\u201d said Congressman Harris. \u201cHowever, Laura\u2019s entry truly captured the natural beauty and spirit of Maryland\u2019s First District.\u201d\nLaura, a junior at Crisfield High School and Academy, is excited by her achievement, stating that \u201cI remember the year prior when I saw the winner\u2019s piece that I felt as though I could never create something like that.\u201d Laura\u2019s parents and art teacher are extremely proud of her accomplishments, as well. Her teacher, Jeremy Holland, commented on her work, \u201cPeople look at art, and see what they want to see based personal experience.\u00a0I think Laura had definitely tapped into that with this stunning piece.\u201d\nThe 2nd place winner of this year\u2019s competition, entitled \u201cCherry Blossom Walk,\u201d was created by Paulina Panas of Kent County High School. The Gunston School\u2019s Jo Wanner is the 3rd place winner, with a work titled \u201cSelf-Portrait.\u201d You can see the winning pieces on Rep. Harris\u2019 Facebook page at\u00a0www.facebook.com/AndyHarrisMD.\nSince 1982, the U.S. House of Representatives has sponsored the Congressional Art Competition to acknowledge the artistic talents of high school students from each Congressional district throughout the country. Each district selects one winner, and that student has the opportunity to display his or her artwork for one year in the U.S. Capitol Building.\u00a0 The student\u2019s piece is displayed alongside artwork from other gifted high school students from across the country.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocean-city-receives-federal-funding-beach-replenishment", "Ocean City Receives Federal Funding for Beach Replenishment", "2017-05-26", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On May 25, the Ocean City government received notification that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $2.45 million in federal funding for the beach replenishment project in Ocean City. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in praise of the project:\n\u201cThe beaches of Ocean City were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and I am pleased to see the Army Corps of Engineers working with Ocean City officials to fund and complete the beach replenishment project. This project will restore our beaches and encourage growth in the city\u2019s tourism industry.\u201d\nCongressman Harris has consistently supported this project and his most recent correspondence with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is attached below.\nOcean City Advance Letter03282017.pdf.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-president-s-budget-offers-government-reform-and-economic-growth", "Rep. Harris: The Presidents Budget Offers Government Reform and Economic Growth", "2017-05-23", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On May 23, the White House released President Trump\u2019s budget proposal for the 2018 fiscal year. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in response to this proposal:\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s proposed budget for the 2018 fiscal year will balance the budget over the course of ten years, something that the previous administration failed to propose every year of its two terms. I am pleased to see welfare reform included in the President\u2019s proposal, as well. Work requirements for able-bodied Americans receiving government assistance help elevate people out of poverty and will root out much of the waste, fraud, and abuse currently straining the nation\u2019s welfare programs. President Trump\u2019s business-oriented perspective is creating responsible government reform that will lead to economic growth.\u201d\nPresident Trump\u2019s budget blueprint can be found here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-comments-appointment-special-counsel-mueller", "Rep. Harris Comments on the Appointment of Special Counsel Mueller", "2017-05-18", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On May 17, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director and U.S. Attorney Robert S. Mueller III to serve as Special Counsel to oversee the FBI investigation into efforts by Russia to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.\u00a0 Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in response to this appointment:\n\u201cJust as I agreed with Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein\u2019s assessment that Mr. Comey damaged the credibility of the FBI, I trust his judgment in appointing Mr. Mueller as Special Counsel to lead the investigation into potential interference by Russia in our 2016 election. Mr. Mueller is widely respected, and I am confident that he will conduct a thorough and nonpartisan investigation into this matter.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/james-comey-damaged-credibility-fbi", "James Comey Damaged The Credibility Of The FBI", "2017-05-11", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On November 2, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi blasted FBI Director James Comey on CNN for his handling of the FBI\u2019s investigation into Hillary Clinton\u2019s emails. That same day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Bloomberg News that he no longer had confidence in Mr. Comey. Several Democratic lawmakers followed suit in criticizing the FBI Director.\nHowever, when President Trump dismissed Mr. Comey earlier this week, the decision was met with an outcry from Congressional Democrats.\nTheir outrage is hypocritical and misplaced. Had Hillary Clinton won in November and relieved Comey of his duties, not one Democrat would have spoken out in opposition.\nTo label Comey\u2019s dismissal as anything less than a carefully considered and fair decision is an insult to our Justice Department. The recommendation to terminate Mr. Comey came from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Representing a part of Maryland, I am very familiar with Mr. Rosenstein.\u00a0 He was the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and, until recently, the country\u2019s longest-serving U.S. attorney.\u00a0 He has a well-deserved reputation of remaining apolitical, and is widely respected by his colleagues. \u00a0If Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein \u2013 a man confirmed to his position by a vote of 94-6 in the U.S. Senate last month \u2013 is not confident in the ability of the FBI Director to perform his duties, then that opinion should be taken seriously.\nThe fact of the matter is that Mr. Comey damaged the credibility of the FBI and lost the confidence of both the American people and his agents. For several months, he received bipartisan criticism for his mishandling of investigations into both Hillary Clinton and President Trump. Even progressive stalwart ThinkProgress referred to the former FBI director as \u201cegregiously incompetent.\u201d When ThinkProgress and President Trump actually\u00a0agree\u00a0on something, the claim must be valid.\nMr. Rosenstein presented a thoughtful and bipartisan critique of Mr. Comey in his recommendation for termination. The American people are entitled to an FBI Director worthy of their trust, and Mr. Comey broke that trust.\nThe American people should be wary of lawmakers jumping on the opportunity to criticize Comey\u2019s dismissal, and using that as a partisan excuse to renew their unwarranted calls for an independent special prosecutor to take over Comey\u2019s investigation of the election. The Senate Intelligence Committee is already in the midst of conducting a bipartisan investigation into alleged interference by Russia in our presidential election. I trust Senators Burr and Warner to conduct a thorough investigation, and to act in the best interest of the American people.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get on with finding a new Director whom we can all trust to handle important FBI matters.\nCongressman Andy Harris serves the people of Maryland\u2019s first congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-responds-termination-fbi-director-comey", "Congressman Harris Responds to the Termination of FBI Director Comey", "2017-05-10", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On May 10, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement on the termination of FBI Director James Comey:\n\u201cThe FBI Director, like all heads of executive branch agencies, serves at the discretion of the President. The recommendation to terminate Director Comey came from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein \u2013 a man committed to justice and widely respected by his peers. I trust the judgment of Mr. Rosenstein, and I believe the President and Attorney General should choose a Director in whom they and the American people have full confidence.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-andy-harris-votes-favor-american-health-care-act", "Dr. Andy Harris Votes in Favor of American Health Care Act", "2017-05-04", "2017", "2017-05", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On May 4, Dr. Andy Harris (MD-01) voted in favor of the H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 217-213. Dr. Harris released the following statement following the passage of the bill:\n\u201cThe Affordable Care Act (\u201cObamacare\u201d) has resulted in skyrocketing health insurance prices, a diminishing choice of providers, and in some areas a dwindling to no choice of health insurance plans.\u00a0 That is why I voted in favor of legislation that will immediately lower premiums and begin to fix our broken health insurance system.\nUnfortunately, there has been significant misinformation about this bill.\u00a0 So I want to be clear that the AHCA explicitly maintains, and even adds, protections for pre-existing conditions.\u00a0 The bill makes clear that under no circumstance can people be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.\u00a0 Guaranteed issue of coverage, guaranteed renewability of coverage, and the prohibition on insurance companies denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition are all maintained.\u00a0 The bill does not change Medicare benefits or impact the Medicare drug benefit.\u00a0\nThe bill will permit states a limited waiver for using health status to adjust costs for some customers if, and only if, a high risk pool, risk sharing, or reinsurance mechanism is instituted to ensure affordable coverage.\u00a0 This is exactly what Maryland did prior to the ACA through the Maryland Health Insurance Program \u2013 a program that successfully ensured affordable coverage and benefits for people with medical conditions, while lowering premium costs in the regular health insurance market.\nThis week, the Maryland Insurance Administration announced that the state\u2019s largest Obamacare insurer is seeking a 53-62% increase to premiums for their silver level health insurance plan\u2014the state\u2019s most popular insurance plan.\u00a0 Since 2014, Marylanders have seen unsustainable and skyrocketing premiums, and some rates will have more than tripled.\u00a0 As Obamacare fails, insurers are leaving the market, and consumers are left with few options for affordable coverage.\u00a0 On the Eastern Shore, there are currently only two insurance options available, and there is no HMO insurance plan available.\nI voted in favor of the American Health Care Act today to strengthen health insurance coverage for every person in Maryland\u2019s First Congressional District, while lowering their health insurance costs.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-statement-president-trump-s-first-100-days-office", "Rep. Harris Statement on President Trumps First 100 Days in Office", "2017-04-28", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On April 28, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement on President Trump\u2019s first 100 days in office:\n\u201cReflecting on the last 100 days, I am proud of the accomplishments achieved by Congress and the White House in such a short time. We have enacted 28 pieces of legislation since President Trump\u2019s inauguration \u2013 more than any other administration since President Harry Truman. Using the Congressional Review Act, we\u2019ve rolled back 13 harmful Obama-era regulations that expanded federal authority and stunted economic growth. One such regulation was the Waters of the United States rule \u2013 a prime example of federal government overreach that would have imposed costly burdens on Eastern Shore farmers. From decreasing illegal immigration, to restoring America\u2019s stature as a leader of the free world, to the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch, the President is keeping his promises to the American People. In the next few months, I am confident that we will continue to strengthen our national defense as we seek to simplify the U.S. tax code, repair our nation\u2019s health care system, and create jobs for the millions of hardworking Americans left behind by the previous administration.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/dr-andy-harris-praises-new-version-health-care-bill", "Dr. Andy Harris Praises New Version of Health Care Bill", "2017-04-26", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On April 26, Dr. Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement on the proposed amended American Health Care Act:\n\u201cI am proud to announce my support for the proposed amended American Health Care Act. As a physician, I\u2019m confident that the amended bill will lower premiums and deductibles for the millions of Americans who have been burdened by the high costs of Obamacare, and it will increase access to affordable policies for the millions who have lost their policies or their doctors under Obamacare.\u00a0 The amendment proposed by Representative MacArthur will also maintain the guarantee of coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions while providing states the flexibility to mold their health care systems to best address the needs of their citizens.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-andy-harris-praises-new-version-health-care-bill", "Dr. Andy Harris Praises New Version of Health Care Bill", "2017-04-26", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On April 26, Dr. Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement on the proposed amended American Health Care Act:\n\u201cI am proud to announce my support for the proposed amended American Health Care Act. As a physician, I\u2019m confident that the amended bill will lower premiums and deductibles for the millions of Americans who have been burdened by the high costs of Obamacare, and it will increase access to affordable policies for the millions who have lost their policies or their doctors under Obamacare.\u00a0 The amendment proposed by Representative MacArthur will also maintain the guarantee of coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions while providing states the flexibility to mold their health care systems to best address the needs of their citizens.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/rep-harris-president-trump-easing-regulatory-burden-farmers", "Rep. Harris: President Trump is Easing the Regulatory Burden on Farmers", "2017-04-25", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On April 25, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s Executive Order Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America.\n\u201cI am pleased to see President Trump and Secretary Perdue working together to ease the regulatory burden placed on farmers by the Obama administration. Maryland\u2019s First District is home to a robust rural community and many small, family-owned farms. I am confident that the concerns of these communities and farmers will be a priority for the new Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity.\u201d\nThe President\u2019s executive order directs Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to work with the rest of the Cabinet to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations that are harmful to the American agriculture industry. This order also establishes the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, which will examine agricultural issues related to economic development, education, overregulation, and taxation. After 180 days, the task force will report its findings and propose specific legislative, regulatory, and policy changes.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-president-trump-easing-regulatory-burden-farmers", "Rep. Harris: President Trump is Easing the Regulatory Burden on Farmers", "2017-04-25", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On April 25, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s Executive Order Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America.\n\u201cI am pleased to see President Trump and Secretary Perdue working together to ease the regulatory burden placed on farmers by the Obama administration. Maryland\u2019s First District is home to a robust rural community and many small, family-owned farms. I am confident that the concerns of these communities and farmers will be a priority for the new Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity.\u201d\nThe President\u2019s executive order directs Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to work with the rest of the Cabinet to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations that are harmful to the American agriculture industry. This order also establishes the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, which will examine agricultural issues related to economic development, education, overregulation, and taxation. After 180 days, the task force will report its findings and propose specific legislative, regulatory, and policy changes.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/harris-tours-kent-and-queen-annes-farms", "Harris Tours Kent and Queen Anne's Farms", "2017-04-24", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CHESTERTOWN \u2014 U.S. Rep. Andy Harris learned about agriculture practices and spoke with farmers about their concerns during a visit to Kent and Queen Anne's counties Thursday, April 20.\n\n\n\tHarris, R-Md.-1st, and local officials first met at Hambleton Creek Farms outside of Chestertown along state Route 213. Indivisible of Kent and Queen Anne's Counties members stood outside the road's turnoff with protest signs like \"No Town Halls.\"\n\n\n\tFarmer Sam Owings, owner of High Impact Environmental Inc., gave Harris' tour group a hay ride through parts of the farm's 400 acres, explaining several \"no-till\" practices, such as the cascading system and chain filtering.\n\n\n\t\"Around the perimeter of a field, along the edges of a stream ... or even right along the Chesapeake Bay would be the perfect place to put something like this,\" Owings said as he explained how useful filter strips can be for stormwater management.\n\n\n\tHe showed the group a large drainage area for stormwater, where it and any harmful nutrients can be contained and recycled.\u00a0\n\n\n\t\"The basic concept is to reduce stormwater flows, keep stormwater on the land and do something positive with it rather than just let it flow into state waters and pollute them,\" Owings said. \"I see this as a more aggressive approach.\"\n\n\n\tHarris said the practices, though temporary, were practical and could be implemented by any farm with a high enough elevation.\n\n\n\t\"I wonder why the state isn't more interested in this,\" he said.\n\n\n\tOwings also discussed how his farm's practices could help reduce the Maryland Department of the Environment's proposed Watershed Implementation Plan's 10-year budget, which is estimated to be $14.4 billion.\n\n\n\t\"Eighty percent of the focus is on 20 percent of the problem,\" he told Harris, as he presented data collected from a two-year local drainage analysis project conducted by Earth Data Inc. and the University of Maryland.\u00a0\n\n\n\tHarris' next stop was Grand View Farm in Kennedyville, home of Langenfelder Pork. There, he met with Pat Langenfelder and her family and heard about their business.\n\n\n\tShe said her concerns were with proposed cuts to the federal budget that would adversely affect both state and local agricultural programs.\n\t\n\t\t\"It's totally preliminary,\" Harris said. \"It's the president's budget ... but it's Congress' job to appropriate. I don't want to see any entity hurt in the poultry and agricultural industries. ... Don't worry about the possibility of huge budget cuts.\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\tHarris, Langenfelder and Janet Christensen-Lewis \u2014 the latter two both board members of the Kent Conservation and Preservation Alliance \u2014 also discussed the impact that large energy projects, like wind or solar farms, can have on a rural area.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\"It's low-hanging fruit, farmland is, to put solar projects on, because you don't need to really do anything. You put it down, wire it together and you're good to go,\" Harris said. \"But that land will never come back agriculture-wise.\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\tHe also said those companies behind the projects should be responsible for the transmission's effect on the local energy grid, not the rate-payers.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\"There's no extra benefit to that extra energy at all,\" Harris said.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tAfter learning more about Langenfelder Pork, he said his office will do what it can to help local farmers and their operations.\n\t\n\nSource: Kent County News", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/harris-tours-benedictine-school", "Harris Tours Benedictine School", "2017-04-20", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RIDGELY \u2014 U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1, visited the Benedictine School on Tuesday, April 18, to learn more about the school and the vast range of services it offers to children and adults with developmental disabilities.\nThe stop was the first throughout the First Congressional District on his schedule this week, while Congress takes a recess.\nHarris took a tour of part of the sprawling campus outside Ridgely, seeing classrooms, residential halls and the school\u2019s graphic design business, and talked to administrators about the school\u2019s future.\nStudents presented Harris with gifts created by the school\u2019s multiple in-house businesses, and Harris gave the school a U.S. flag that flew Feb. 13 over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., in recognition of the school\u2019s mission.\nThe Benedictine School was founded in 1959, by the Sisters of St. Benedict, and today serves 67 students, ages 5 to 21, from throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region, most of whom live on campus full-time.\nIn 1982, it added its Adult Services program, now serving more than 120 adults ages 22 and up, offering employment in its own businesses, including graphic design, a greenhouse, landscaping, a bakery and mobile cleaning services, or employment training for adults seeking jobs elsewhere.\nThe Adult Services division also provides residential support to more than 70 adults living in 18 homes in Annapolis, Easton, Henderson, Denton and Ridgely.\nIn total, Benedictine employs about 425 full- and part-time people, making it one of the largest employers in Caroline County.\nScott Evans, executive director of Benedictine programs and services, is the first lay person to head the organization in its history, after co-founder and longtime executive director Sister Jeannette Murray retired in 2012.\nEvans said the school has transformed many times over the years to meet the changing needs of its students, and is facing yet another transition in the near future.\nFor one, the Sisters of St. Benedict, who are part of a diocese based in Wilmington, Del., will move to the Wilmington area in the next couple of years, as convents merge due to declining numbers.\nEvans said only two active sisters work on the campus now.\nTo prepare for that shift, Evans said, Benedictine\u2019s board of directors bought 130 acres from the sisters, to make sure it still belongs to the school if the sisters leave.\nBenedictine is also talking to potential local, state and federal partners, who might be able to use the massive infrastructure already in place on the campus.\nFor instance, the Caroline County Department of Recreation and Parks is in talks to use the school\u2019s pool to offer summer swimming lessons, Evans said.\n\u201cWe weren\u2019t in a position to do that before, but now we can look at what resources we have, and see how we can be of further service to Caroline County and the entire Eastern Shore,\u201d Evans said.\nNew federal regulations are also coming, Evans said. Of particular concern is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule change.\nPassed in 2014, it says all settings for people with disabilities must be integrated into the community, and non-residential settings must meet the same standards to ensure people receiving supports are experiencing the greater community just as much as they would were they not receiving Medicaid services.\nThe compliance deadline is March 2019.\nEvans said while he agrees with the spirit of the rule change, he is worried about the deadline.\n\u201cNot having our funding changes answered is our biggest concern,\u201d Evans said.\nHarris said he would look into the deadline.\n\u201cIf federal regulations are impeding your ability to do what you need to do, let me know,\u201d Harris said.\nSource: Times-Record", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-harris-tours-north-east-company-talks-workforce-needs-swn-roundtable", "Rep. Harris Tours North East Company, Talks Workforce Needs at SWN Roundtable", "2017-04-20", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NORTH EAST \u2014 In the last three years, Composites USA General Manager Dan Naugle has never hired anyone who\u2019s had a job.\nAll his workers have been previously unemployed, some are living in their cars and many are drug- or alcohol-dependent. Finding workers is so difficult that Naugle has set himself the modest goal of finding one or two good people a year.\n\u201cIf I can get two people a year that I can have as a core \u2014 and I have a couple decent people out there already although I think they are alcohol-dependent \u2014 if I can get one or two drug-free people a year for four or five years, I can have a good core of 10 or 15 people,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it\u2019s tough.\u201d\nNaugle relayed his concerns about the workforce to U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st District) when the congressman visited the company, which makes fiberglass reinforced plastics, on Thursday afternoon. After visiting Composites USA, Harris traveled down to Harford Community College to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Susquehanna Workforce Network, a nonprofit focusing on workforce development in Cecil and Harford counties.\nComposites USA, which has been located off Route 272 in North East since 1985, has major clients such as DuPont, Pennsylvania State University, Intel and Boeing, and primarily manufacturers products such as pipes and storage tanks out of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Unlike regular pipes and tanks, these ones are corrosive-resistant, which makes them ideal for companies that do a lot of work with chemicals, Naugle said.\nWhile giving Harris a tour, which was also attended by representatives from the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), Naugle was proud to note that his company uses only American materials and doesn\u2019t import anything from overseas.\nBut while he pays his workers good wages \u2014 the average wage is $20.50 an hour \u2014 and has a low turnover rate, Naugle said he still has a hard time finding good employees. Part of the reason, he conceded, is that he has \u201cmedium-skill\u201d jobs, which differ from the low-skill jobs offered by the many warehouses coming to the county and require more training. In addition, Naugle said it typically takes 18 months to fully train a worker, noting that small mistakes in production can end up costing his company tens of thousands of dollars.\nHe recently worked with SWN to hire three people out of one of its programs that is supposed to make unemployed people \u201chirable,\u201d Naugle said.\n\u201cOne of them didn\u2019t show up the first day, one of them worked an hour and one of them worked a week,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought I was doing a good thing, but I didn\u2019t get anything.\u201d\nNaugle said he\u2019s heard similar concerns from other manufacturers in the area, and Harris sympathized with his need for a better workforce. He pointed out that attempts to raise the minimum wage are resulting in automation at places like McDonald\u2019s and taking away the entry-level jobs that kids used to work in order to get some experience in the workforce. In addition, the \u201cwelfare state\u201d also de-incentivizes people to work, he added.\nAs a member of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services Subcommittee, Harris said he thinks the biggest issue is that the education system has not yet figured out how to match the needs of the workforce. Naugle agreed and said he sees a huge lack of people \u201cwho tinker\u201d and work with their hands, which makes it harder to train them to work at his company.\n\u201cHow do we make sure that you don\u2019t have to sit here worrying every day that, gosh, if two people quit on that floor, how am I going to be able to replace them and how long will it take to train them?\u201d Harris asked.\n\u201cYou hit it right on the head,\u201d Naugle replied. \u201cThat\u2019s what I think every day.\u201d\nA similar conversation around skills in the workforce occurred when Harris traveled over the bridge to the HCC campus in Aberdeen for a roundtable discussion hosted by SWN with more than a dozen members of the regional business community.\nBeginning the discussion, SWN Executive Director Bruce England briefed the congressman on SWN\u2019s operations, which generally revolve around the placement of laid off workers in new positions and assisting businesses with finding skilled workers. England told Harris that SWN places between 82 and 90 percent of its clients in a new position with a sustainable wage. Of those, 60 to 70 percent are retained for a year.\n\u201cThat\u2019s pretty good,\u201d Harris replied.\nAs the discussion progressed, business leaders pointed to a labor force that is often times lacking in certain skills, a dilemma that hinders economic growth.\nSteven Overbay, deputy director of Harford County\u2019s Department of Economic Development, said that Aberdeen Proving Ground has hundreds of unfilled jobs in cybersecurity.\nWarwick Mushroom farm manager Jack Reitnauer said he\u2019s struggling to find workers with the mechanical and computer skills that his business needs.\n\u201cWe hear it throughout the agriculture sector,\u201d Harris said on the declining workforce. \u201cI don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing wrong.\u201d\nOther business owners said the region has a need for more trade workers \u2014 such as welders and machinists \u2014 and they voiced frustration that schools appear to be pushing more and more students toward four-year universities.\n\u201cWhy we don\u2019t have more welders and machinists is depressing,\u201d Harris said, noting the competitive pay for these occupations.\nAnother handful said employees often lack life skills, such as the ability to show up on time and work hard.\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what we\u2019re teaching in our schools, to be honest with you,\u201d Harris said. \u201cWe\u2019re failing that.\u201d\nReflecting on the concerns of the business community, Harris asked whether schools seemed to be receptive to the business community\u2019s needs. England indicated that schools are receptive and active in preparing students, but that there are limitations.\nTalking about the need to prepare machinists, England said that \u201cthe technology is costly.\u201d\nEngland pointed to the Cecil County School of Technology \u2014 which offers programs in a plethora of diverse fields \u2014 as one way the county is addressing workforce development.\nHarris called it a \u201cbeautiful facility\u201d with \u201cgreat promise.\u201d\nOberbay added that Harford Technical High School is increasingly competitive and unable to serve the county\u2019s growing population. He added that the school appears to be pushing students toward attending four-year universities, instead of pushing them towards a trade program.\n\u201cI think our vocational process has lost sight\u201d of the important of trades, he said.\nAfterward, Harris said he heard a need to better prepare the workforce, from recent high school graduates who have never had a job to people who have been laid off from a job they held for decades.\n\u201cThis is important, because the necessary skill set changes over time and changes with location. These have to be locally matched,\u201d Harris said. \u201cOne of the advantages of the (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), the current workforce act, as you heard, hopefully allows the flexibility for these decisions to be made locally, not from Washington.\u201d\nSource: Cecil Whig", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/harris-meets-ag-community", "Harris Meets With Ag Community", "2017-04-19", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CORDOVA \u2014 U.S. Rep. Andy Harris discussed agricultural concerns Tuesday, April 18, in a roundtable discussion at the Triple Creek Winery in Cordova.\n\n\n\tHarris, R-Md.-1st, met with members of the Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester agriculture community, including farmers, and representatives from Maryland Department of Agriculture, Talbot County Council, University of Maryland Extension office, Maryland Grain Producers, Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, Caroline and Talbot farm bureaus along with other government officials.\n\n\n\tThe discussion was moderated by Kurt Fuchs, government affairs officer for Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit.\n\n\n\tThe topics of the discussion included crop insurance, deer management, conservation programs and most importantly to the group \u2014 trade.\n\n\n\tThe conversation began with Harris addressing the room and saying he has heard a lot of concerns regarding the new administration and trade deals. Harris said he feels that the president will be able to negotiate very well to ensure our products do not have a disadvantage.\n\n\n\tLindsay Thompson, executive director of Maryland Grain Producers, raised the concern of grain trade and said grain exports are really important to the Eastern Shore.\n\n\n\t\u201cI think a lot of people may not realize that because we have such great customers here in the poultry industry; almost 100 percent is consumed here on Delmarva,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cBut those trade markets \u2014 alternative fuels, ethanol and the biofuels has been a huge export market that helps to support our base price, which supports the grain market as a whole.\u201d\n\n\n\t\u201cThe backing off of supporting ethanol right now is not the right time,\u201d said Paul Spies, owner of Triple Creek Winery.\n\n\n\t\u201cWe need whatever we can do to grow commodity pricing and sales of our commodities,\u201d Spies said. \u201cThat might mean an extra 50 cents for our poultry industry. Foreign trade in ethanol is our only hope for price riding.\u201d\n\n\n\tAs grain farmers, the biggest problem is that \u201cU.S. consumption isn\u2019t rising,\u201d Jason Scott said. Scott is a Dorchester County farmer and chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates.\n\n\n\t\u201cThe growth markets are South East Asia, Latin America, Africa and those exports are a huge part of the dollars we get back here on the farm,\u201d Scott said.\n\n\n\tGrain was not the only trade concern mentioned; dairy, especially the milk trade, has been affected due to not having an export market, said Colby Ferguson, director of government relations at Maryland Farm Bureau.\n\n\n\t\u201cThe two big things in Maryland is dairy and poultry are really hurting due to lack of exports,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cWe are actually dumping fluid (milk).\u201d\n\n\n\tHe said losing the Asian market, specifically China and Russia, has substantially hurt the industry.\n\n\n\t\u201cInconsistent market access is our biggest hurdle,\u201d Ferguson said.\n\n\n\tState Del. Johnny Mautz, R-37B-Talbot, raised the concern over the deer population in Maryland. He said there is a way to tweak the management programs.\n\n\n\t\u201cYou want to manage the deer, you don\u2019t want to eliminate all of them, but you want to have the tools to remove them when it\u2019s time to remove them,\u201d Mautz said. \u201cWe are finding area after area where we don\u2019t have those tools.\u201d\n\n\n\tHe asked Harris to help bolster that program and said it would be a big help for the agriculture community. Mautz said he has five food banks in Maryland that are willing to take any ground venison that can be provided to them.\n\n\n\tFerguson said the issue with deer harvesting is that through the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services audit, they determined in 2012 that using fees from hunting licenses to fund the rendering of deer was not an appropriate use of funds.\n\n\n\t\u201cEasiest thing to do is just to convince them it is,\u201d Harris said. \u201cIt\u2019s a case of federal government getting in the way.\u201d\n\t\n\t\tFuchs said one of the most important things to local farmers is making sure they are good stewards of the land and they are conserving it. One of the key components of that is conservation programs through the Farm Bill.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tThe room discussed the benefits and the downfalls of the National Conservation Practices Standards but continually went back to issues of international trade.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tHarris asked several followup questions to each topic and continued to take notes throughout the meeting.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tAt the end of the meeting, Harris was presented with a Friend of the Farm Bureau Award from John Draper, second vice president of Maryland Farm Bureau.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cIt is so nice that the congressman is able to sit down with local constituents in a small group and really listen,\u201d Jennifer Williams, Talbot County Council president, said. \u201cIt speaks to (who) he truly is versus what we hear about him in the media.\u201d\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cHe was very responsive, asking pertinent questions and he was taking lots of notes, you truly get the feel he was listening,\u201d Williams said.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cIt\u2019s always great to hear from farmers in the district, they are so important to the economy on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,\u201d Harris said. \u201cThe federal government over the last couple of years tended to lose sight that over-regulation by the federal government can harm an industry.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cAs we hear the ag approbations bill or the EPA appropriations bill we will bring up some of these issues and try to correct them through the bill or with the departments directly,\u201d Harris said.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cIt\u2019s important to hear from members of the ag community and to learn from them what their views are on federal issues, and how those issues relate directly to our state,\u201d Mautz said.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cWhen you live it, you know it,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we don\u2019t live it, so I am here learning as much as I am providing input.\u201d\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\u201cThere is no better way to know what is going on than going out to talk to people,\u201d Mautz said. \u201cThese are the experts, and it\u2019s great to sit down with them, and for the congressman to realize that and take the time to come together.\u201d\n\t\tSource: Star Democrat", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-andy-harris-announces-person-availability-salisbury-offic", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces In-Person Availability at Salisbury Office", "2017-04-13", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will host office hours in his Salisbury office on Wednesday, April 19. Constituents in groups of up to five people will be able to meet with Dr. Harris and ask questions about topics under consideration in Congress. All constituents are invited to attend.\nMeetings can be scheduled by emailing Harris.Scheduling@mail.house.gov. If time is available, walk-in appointments will be made on a first come, first serve basis. However, priority will be given to constituents who have scheduled an appointment.\n Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017\nTime: 8:00 \u2013 10:30 AM\nLocation: 100 East Main Street, Suite 702, Salisbury, MD 21801\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-announces-person-availability-salisbury-office", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces In-Person Availability at Salisbury Office", "2017-04-13", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will host office hours in his Salisbury office on Wednesday, April 19. Constituents in groups of up to five people will be able to meet with Dr. Harris and ask questions about topics under consideration in Congress. All constituents are invited to attend.\nMeetings can be scheduled by emailing Harris.Scheduling@mail.house.gov. If time is available, walk-in appointments will be made on a first come, first serve basis. However, priority will be given to constituents who have scheduled an appointment.\n Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017\n\tTime: 8:00 \u2013 10:30 AM\n\tLocation: 100 East Main Street, Suite 702, Salisbury, MD 21801\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-andy-harris-responds-us-strike-against-syria", "Congressman Andy Harris Responds to U.S. Strike Against Syria", "2017-04-07", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On April 7, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement on the U.S. missile strike against Syria:\n\u201cI fully support President Trump\u2019s decision to strike the Syrian air force base from which a deadly chemical weapons attack was launched earlier this week. Last night, the President showed our adversaries that he is ready to reestablish American leadership in the Middle East and on the global stage. Assad\u2019s use of chemical weapons on civilians is a violent breach of several international agreements and a threat to American national security, and cannot be tolerated.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-harris-praises-confirmation-judge-neil-gorsuch-supreme-court", "Congressman Harris Praises the Confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court", "2017-04-07", "2017", "2017-04", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the Senate\u2019s confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court:\n\u201cI want to offer my congratulations to Judge Neil Gorsuch on his confirmation to the Supreme Court. Judge Gorsuch is a distinguished legal scholar and a devoted public servant.\u00a0 His profound understanding of the Constitution makes him the perfect fit to fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia.\u201d\nJudge Gorsuch was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 7 by a 54-45 vote. Judge Gorsuch previously served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, a position to which he was confirmed by a unanimous vote in the Senate in 2006.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-harris-applauds-attorney-general%E2%80%99s-move-enforce-federal-immigration-law", "Congressman Harris Applauds Attorney Generals Move to Enforce Federal Immigration Law in Sanctuary Cities", "2017-03-28", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of Attorney General Sessions\u2019 announcement that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will now require compliance with federal immigration law as a condition for receiving DOJ grants:\n\u201cI fully support the Attorney General\u2019s position to deny future and claw-back current law enforcement funding from jurisdictions in the United States that fail to comply with federal immigration law. Unfortunately for Maryland, that means many jurisdictions will lose funding, including Baltimore County. The county stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in law enforcement grants from the Department of Justice as a result of its sanctuary policy, which places its residents at risk.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/chesapeake-college-issues-code-conduct-march-31-town-hall-meeting", "Chesapeake College Issues Code of Conduct for March 31 Town Hall Meeting", "2017-03-27", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will hold a town hall meeting this Friday, March 31. This event is open to all residents of Maryland\u2019s First District and is open to the press. For questions or concerns please contact Congressman Harris\u2019 office at 202-225-5311.\n Date: Friday, March 31, 2017\nTime: 6:00 \u2013 7:00 PM\nLocation: Todd Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679\n The administration of Chesapeake College has issued the following code of conduct for the event, and will enforce these rules accordingly:\n No weapons of any kind will be permitted on campus.\nThere will be a designated area for anyone that wants to walk back and forth with signs, but they will not be allowed to interfere with anyone entering or leaving the venue.\nSigns are permitted without sticks attached to them.\nBull horns are allowed on the outside of the venue, but not allowed inside.\nNo tables will be allowed to be set up inside or outside the venue.\nInformation can only be handed out if attendees approach the designated areas. No attendees can be approached.\nSmall signs (no larger than 8 \u00bd x 11) that do not interfere or obstruct views of attendees can be brought into the venue.\nSmall circle in front of the TPAC will be reserved for those that need to be dropped off at the venue due to physical disabilities.\nVenue will open at 5:00PM.\u00a0 Once seats inside the theater reach capacity, no others will be allowed in the building.\nParking area on Ring Rd. in front of the TPAC will be reserved for media staging.\nUnruly behavior that disrupts the town hall will not be tolerated.\u00a0 If any type of behavior disrupts the event, that person will be asked to refrain his/her behavior.\u00a0 If the behavior continues, then they will be asked to leave.\u00a0 If they refuse to leave, they will be subject to arrest by law enforcement.\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/representative-harris-announces-military-academy-resource-forums", "Representative Harris Announces Military Academy Resource Forums", "2017-03-20", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Representative Andy Harris (MD-01) has announced that his district offices will host two Military Service Academy Resource Forums for high school students in Maryland\u2019s First District. The events will be held in April at Bel Air High School and Wicomico High School. All college-bound high school students interested in attending a service academy and their parents are encouraged to attend.\nCongressman Harris has invited representatives from West Point and the Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and Naval Academies to attend. The Congressman\u2019s staff will also explain Dr. Harris\u2019 role in the nomination process. These events are excellent opportunities for high school students to explore their options for higher education.\nHarford County Event\n Date: April 20, 2017\nTime: 6:00 \u2013 8:30 PM\nLocation: Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe Street, Bel Air, MD 21014\nTo RSVP, please contact Dr. Harris\u2019 Bel Air office at 410-588-5670\n Wicomico County Event\n Date: April 27, 2017\nTime: 6:00 \u2013 8:30 PM\nLocation: Wicomico High School, 201 Long Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804\nTo RSVP, please contact Dr. Harris\u2019 Salisbury office at 443-944-8624\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/dr-andy-harris-issues-statement-president-trump%E2%80%99s-budget-proposal", "Dr. Andy Harris Issues Statement on President Trump's Budget Proposal", "2017-03-17", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Representative Andy Harris (MD-01) issued the following statement yesterday regarding President Trump\u2019s proposed budget for 2018:\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is a treasure, and as a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I am committed to working with the administration to prioritize programs within the Environmental Protection Agency that would preserve Bay cleanup efforts. As the worldwide terrorist threat and other international dangers grow, President Trump\u2019s proposed increases in defense and homeland security spending are vital for continuing to keep Americans safe, and I support his proposed increases.\u201d\n\nDr. Harris currently serves on the following Appropriations Subcommittees:\n\nAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies\n\nLabor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies\n\nHomeland Security\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-andy-harris-announces-2017-congressional-art-competition", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces 2017 Congressional Art Competition", "2017-03-10", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) is pleased to announce that the 2017 Congressional Art Competition is now open for submissions. The competition recognizes talented high school artists around the country. Winners from each congressional district will be invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C.\n\nAll high school students in Maryland\u2019s First Congressional District are encouraged to apply. A winner from each congressional district will be chosen to display his or her artwork in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year.\n\n\u201cEvery year the Congressional Art Competition highlights the artistic talent in Maryland\u2019s First District,\u201d said Congressman Harris. \u201cI am continuously impressed by the submissions we receive and am honored to display the First District runners-up in my office. This year I am asking students to consider honoring the sacrifices of our law enforcement community, as they prepare their submissions, as special consideration will be given to works with this theme. I eagerly anticipate seeing the winning piece from the First District hanging on the wall in the U.S. Capitol. \u201d\n\nSince the first Congressional Art Competition in 1982, over 650,000 high school students have submitted their art work to the competition judges. For full competition guidelines and the student release form, please visit Congressman Harris\u2019 website at harris.house.gov. Go to the \u201cServing You\u201d tab at the top of the screen and click on \u201cArt Competition.\u201d\n\nThe deadline for submissions is April 24, 2017.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/representative-andy-harris-announces-constituent-town-hall-meeting", "Representative Andy Harris Announces Constituent Town Hall Meeting", "2017-03-10", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On March 31, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will be hosting a constituent town hall meeting in Maryland\u2019s First Congressional District, to answer questions about topics being considered by Congress and to listen to the concerns of First District residents. All constituents are invited to attend and ask questions.\n\nFor questions or concerns please contact Congressman Harris\u2019 office at 202-225-5311.\n\nDate: Friday, March 31, 2017\n\nTime: 6:00 \u2013 7:00 PM\n\nLocation: Todd Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-andy-harris-announces-person-availability-bel-air-office", "Congressman Andy Harris Announces In-Person Availability At Bel Air Office", "2017-03-08", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: In addition to holding tele-town halls throughout the District and a town hall on the Middle Shore on March 31, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will host office hours in his Bel Air office on Saturday, March 11. Constituents in groups of up to five people will be able to meet with Dr. Harris and ask questions about topics under consideration in Congress. All constituents are invited to attend.\n\nMeetings can be scheduled by emailing Harris.Scheduling@mail.house.gov. If time is available, walk-in appointments will be made on a first come, first serve basis. However, priority will be given to constituents who have scheduled an appointment.\n\nDate: Saturday, March 11, 2017\n\nTime: 8:00 AM \u2013 12:00 Noon\n\nLocation: 15 East Churchville Road Suite 102B, Bel Air, MD 21014\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/dr-harris-american-health-care-act-will-empower-patients", "Dr. Harris: The American Health Care Act Will Empower Patients", "2017-03-07", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On March 7, Dr. Andy Harris released the following statement on the newly released draft of the American Health Care Act:\n\n\u201cObamacare\u2019s many failures are spiraling out of control. For too long, Americans have seen their premiums skyrocketing, their deductibles soaring, and their choices dwindling. The Obamacare path is unsustainable and dangerous for our country.\n\nFixing this mess will not be easy, but this week the American Health Care Act (AHCA) was introduced to replace the failing Obamacare system. AHCA will drive down costs while providing every American with access to high quality, affordable health insurance.\n\nAHCA does away with Washington bureaucratic mandates, choosing instead to empower patients and their physicians in health care decision-making. AHCA restores control of Medicaid decisions to the states, helping us to reduce fraud and abuse while promoting flexibility.\n\nAHCA accomplishes all of this while maintaining protections for patients with pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to stay on their parents\u2019 insurance. We are working to make the transition from Obamacare to the AHCA as smooth as possible.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/rep-harris-issues-statement-president-trumps-immigration-executive-order", "Rep. Harris Issues Statement on President Trump's Immigration Executive Order", "2017-03-06", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris released the following statement regarding President Trump\u2019s latest Executive Order:\n\n\"I applaud President Trump for doing everything he can to assure that immigrants from countries which are either state sponsors of terrorism, or where ISIS has significant presence, will be properly vetted before entry. This temporary pause in immigration from those six countries was long overdue - giving our law enforcement and Homeland Security officials adequate time to work to develop vetting measures that will protect us from terrorist infiltrators.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-andy-harris-responds-trump-administration%E2%80%99s-decision-school-bathroom", "Congressman Andy Harris Responds to the Trump Administrations Decision on School Bathroom Policies", "2017-03-03", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement regarding the Trump administration\u2019s decision to return authority over school bathroom policies to state and local governments.\n\n\u201cI applaud the new Trump administration for walking back the previous administration\u2019s \u2018bathroom guidance\u2019 letter concerning gender identity in elementary schools. With our public education system falling behind that of our global competitors, I am glad we will no longer be distracted by such issues. As I pointed out in my letter to the superintendents of public schools in Maryland\u2019s 1st District, the Obama guidance most likely wasn\u2019t legally binding, since it clearly did not follow the clear meaning of the underlying statute, and would most likely have been overturned by the courts.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/representative-harris-introduces-legislation-combat-sanctuary-campuses", "Representative Harris Introduces Legislation to Combat Sanctuary Campuses", "2017-03-03", "2017", "2017-03", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC: On March 2, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) introduced the Federal Immigration Law Campus Compliance Act of 2017. This legislation will end sanctuary policies on campuses nationwide without negatively impacting innocent individual students. The federal government currently provides around $38 billion in grants each year to universities for research and development. Approximately 23% of those funds go to overhead or indirect costs associated with research and development activities, with some institutions receiving hundreds of millions of dollars each year. By withholding reimbursement for \u201cindirect\u201d or overhead costs associated with research and development grants from any institution of higher learning that does not comply with federal immigration law, this legislation will end sanctuary campus policies nationwide.\n\n\u201cI am proud to sponsor and introduce the Federal Immigration Law Campus Compliance Act of 2017. Educational institutions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law undermine our nation\u2019s security. The aim of my bill is to hold these institutions accountable without penalizing students. By withholding only reimbursement for indirect research costs, American students will still have access to financial aid, Pell grants, and direct research funding,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\nCongressman Harris\u2019 legislation stands apart from similar bills introduced in the 115th Congress because of the narrow scope of the penalties outlined. The bill does not punish students. Instead, it simply removes a noncompliant university\u2019s ability to pay for overhead costs with federal funds.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 103, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "MD", "p2": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 103, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 103, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD&year=2017&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "MD", "label": "MD", "count": 103, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 103, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2017-03-03,http~3A~2F~2Fharris~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fpress-release~2Frepresentative-harris-introduces-legislation-combat-sanctuary-campuses", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MD&year=2017&_next=2017-03-03%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Fharris~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fpress-release~2Frepresentative-harris-introduces-legislation-combat-sanctuary-campuses&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 408.080633264035, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}